Newey will be Aston Martin team principal from 2026

Andy Cowell will shift into a new strategic role to strengthen the team’s work-partnership foundations. The team announced that he and Newey agreed to divide responsibilities to maximise their individual strengths within Aston Martin.

Cowell will move from his position as CEO and team principal to become chief strategy officer, reporting directly to Lawrence Stroll. Newey, currently managing technical partner, will take over full team principal duties in 2026 while continuing to guide the technical organisation and trackside operations.

Aston Martin said the structural changes are designed to prepare the organisation for the largest regulatory overhaul in a generation, as well as the arrival of an eleventh team. Over the past fourteen months, Cowell has overseen the transition work required for Aston Martin’s step up to full works status with Honda, Aramco and Valvoline.

Cowell said: “Having implemented much-needed structural changes as we transition to a full works team and set the foundations for Adrian and the wider organisation, it is an appropriate time for me to take a different role as Chief Strategy Officer.

:In this role, I will help to optimise the technical partnership between the Team, Honda, Aramco and Valvoline and to ensure the seamless integration of the Team’s new PU, fuel and chassis.”

The team confirmed that his remit will be centred on coordinating the integration of the new power unit, fuel and chassis across its three technical partners.

Stroll said: “Andy Cowell has been a great leader this year. He’s focussed on building a world class team and getting them to work well together, as well as fostering a culture that puts the race car back at the heart of what we do. This leadership change is a mutual decision we have reached in the interest of the Team. We all look forward to continuing working with him in his new capacity as Chief Strategy Officer.”

Newey will become team principal from 2026, adding overall team leadership to his existing technical oversight. Stroll said this move will allow Aston Martin to make full use of his creative and engineering influence.

Stroll said: “I’m also pleased that Adrian Newey will step into the Team Principal role, which will enable him to make full use of his creative and technical expertise. Both these changes will ensure the Team is best placed to play to their collective strengths.”

Newey said the scale of the 2026 reset makes the new role a natural step: “Over the last nine months, I have seen great individual talent within our Team. I’m looking forward to taking on this additional role as we put ourselves in the best possible position to compete in 2026.

"We will face an entirely new position with Aston Martin now a works team combined with the considerable challenge faced by the new regulations. Andy’s new role, focusing on the integration of the new PU with our three key partners, will be pivotal in this journey," added Newey

Aston Martin said the restructure ensures that leadership, technical development and partner integration are aligned, with Stroll continuing to oversee the team’s business operations as executive chairman.