Newey on why he left Red Bull and his Aston Martin challenge

Newey, who has built a legendary career designing F1 title-winning cars for Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull, admitted that the move to Aston Martin presents a different challenge compared to his previous transitions.

Speaking to ams.F1 podcast, Newey reflected on his career; he said: "March to Williams was moving from a tiny team of 50 people to a much bigger, well-established one. My role was primarily to contribute to the car’s design, as the infrastructure was already in place.

"Williams to McLaren was similar, but Red Bull was completely different—it was a team that had never really achieved much, so it wasn’t just about design, but also developing the infrastructure, communication, and team spirit," he explained.

While he has yet to officially start at Aston Martin, Newey suspects that his role there may bear similarities to his early days at Red Bull.

"I don’t know yet, but I suspect it may be more on the Red Bull side of things," he predicted.

Having played a crucial role in Red Bull’s dominance, Newey revealed that his departure was not something he had foreseen, adding: "If you had asked me 12 months ago whether I’d leave Red Bull and start again elsewhere, I’d have said you were crazy.

"But for various reasons, I felt I wouldn’t be true to myself if I stayed. The first difficult decision was whether to remain at Red Bull, and ultimately, I couldn’t," he admitted.

Once that decision was made, Newey explored his options. He continued: "With my wife Mandy, we discussed retirement, America’s Cup, road car projects, or staying in racing.

"If I was going to stay, I might as well remain in Formula 1—assuming people wanted me. I realised I’d get bored doing nothing. I’ve loved this job since I was ten, and I’ve been lucky to enjoy most of my working days, so why stop now?"

Newey acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the new 2026 technical regulations, which will introduce simultaneous overhauls of both power units and chassis.

"I have little detailed knowledge of the new rules because I’ve been out of Formula 1 since April. It’ll be a rapid learning curve when I start," he revealed.

When asked whether the new rules will allow him to make a decisive impact, Newey was cautious, saying: "I think there’s a big chance it could be an engine-dominated formula at the start, just like 2014 was.

"I can’t recall another time when both chassis and engine regulations changed simultaneously, and the chassis rules have been written to compensate for the power unit regulations," he reckoned.

He noted that while engine manufacturers may have learned from the struggles of 2014, a dominant power unit could still emerge.

"If it’s on the combustion engine side, a manufacturer could maintain an advantage throughout the regulation cycle. But if it’s on the electrical side, there’s more room for competitors to catch up," Newey maintained.

Despite his primary focus being the 2026 project, Newey did not rule out playing a role in Aston Martin’s 2025 car; he said: "My concentration will be on 2026, but no doubt Lawrence Stroll will want me a little involved in 2025. Whether I can contribute anything, I don’t know yet."

Newey also reflected on his early passion for car design, which stemmed from childhood model-building; he recalled: "For my ninth birthday, my parents gave me a 1967 Honda V12 model. I struggled to put it together correctly, but the following year, I got a Lotus 49 model—that made a big impression."

By the age of 12, Newey was sketching his own designs and modifying existing models; he continued: "I started using my dad’s workshop to fabricate parts and repurpose old models. Of course, at 12, I had no idea what I was doing, but I was unwittingly developing the skills that would later define my career."

With a fresh challenge ahead and new regulations on the horizon, Newey remains as motivated as ever. He insisted: "I still love what I do, and I’m excited for what’s to come."

As F1 prepares for a new era in 2026, all eyes will be on Aston Martin—and whether Newey’s legendary design expertise can transform the team into title contenders.