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Aston Martin has confirmed that it has won the race for the most sought-after engineer in F1; Adrian Newey will continue his illustrious career with Lawrence Stroll's team.
The 65-year-old Brit has decided to leave Red Bull after 18 years with the team. Besides the new factory and wind tunnel, it is reported that an annual salary of around €35 million also attracted him to the new role. Newey is joining a series of high-profile additions to the British team, which is entering a new era of F1 cars with Honda. Aston Martin has also brought in former Mercedes engine department head Andy Cowell and recently former Ferrari technical director Enrico Cardile. Additionally, the team already includes Dan Fallows, an aerodynamicist who spent most of his career alongside Newey at Red Bull.
Although many did not expect Newey to actually join the team, this great engineer has surprised everyone by confirming his move to Aston Martin. Upon joining, Newey expressed his happiness with the direction the team's leadership is taking.
At 65, Newey sees himself as a key player in the project. He believes in the team’s vision of creating a car that can compete with the best in Formula 1 and win championships. Given his extensive experience, Newey was seen as the final piece in the team’s strategic plan. The Briton is enthusiastic about the partners involved, who played a significant role in his decision, and is looking forward to this exciting new venture.
“I’ve been greatly impressed by the passion and dedication that Lawrence brings to everything he does,” Newey said.
“Lawrence is determined to create a team that will conquer the world. He is the only majority owner who is actively involved in the sport. His commitment is evident in the development of the new AMR technology campus and wind tunnel at Silverstone, which are not only state-of-the-art but also create an excellent working environment.”
“Together with great partners like Honda and Aramco, they have all the key pieces of infrastructure needed to turn Aston Martin into a championship-winning team, and I’m very excited to help achieve that goal.”
Newey will begin his role as “Technical Partner Manager” on March 1, 2025, and has also become a shareholder in the team. Aston Martin officials have stated that a private tour of their facilities was crucial in securing the renowned engineer.
“When he saw what we have built in Silverstone – our incredible AMR Technology Campus, the talented group of people we have assembled, and the latest wind tunnel in the sport – he quickly understood what we are aiming to achieve. We are serious about this, and so is he.”-they say.
Adrian Newey, the most respected designer in the history of Formula 1, has decided to leave Red Bull and join Aston Martin.
Despite receiving offers from several teams, including Ferrari and McLaren, Newey chose Aston Martin, drawn by their immense ambition and impressive new factory worth £200 million. This move marks a key moment for Aston Martin, signaling that with Newey on board, the team is poised for huge plans and a promising future.
At Red Bull, where Newey was a key figure for years, he earned €17 million annually. However, at Aston Martin, his salary will be even higher—€23 million per year. Aston Martin's owner, Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, has ambitious plans to win the championship in the coming years. Starting in 2026, the team will use engines produced by Honda.
Adirna Newey explains his decision
Many were surprised given that this brilliant engineer had previously stated he had no intention of continuing his F1 career and needed a break. However, just a few months later, things turned out differently. Many are wondering why Newey made such statements. The British designer has now explained his earlier comments. He admitted that he was uncertain about his future and unsure of his next steps. It appears that the offers from Aston Martin were too compelling to ignore, and he realized he had to become part of this team.
"When I decided to stop it at Red Bull, which was really over the Suzuka weekend back in April, [I] genuinely had no idea what would be next," Newey said.
"[I] just wanted to have a blank mind, take stock, enjoy a bit of a break and and was hoping that standing in the shower somewhere, the spark would come of: 'Yep, this should be the direction.' "
He also highlighted that his wife, Amanda, played an important role in his decision. Newey joked that she probably wanted him to be away from home as much as possible, as having him around too much might drive her a bit mad.
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