Formula One design legend Adrian Newey has been appointed as the team principal of Aston Martin from 2026.
It comes following reports Christian Horner was linked to replace the under pressure Andy Cowell in the role, The Sun reports.
Cowell, 56, reportedly had a disagreement with Newey, 66, over the design direction of the team ahead of the F1 regulation changes next season.
However, the Silverstone-based constructor, owned by Lawrence Stroll, has now announced a change to the leadership structure of the team for next season.
Cowell has been moved out of the position of team principal and will begin a new role as chief strategy officer, while Newey will take on the role of team principal.
Newey will be combining his new position with his current role of managing technical partner which he started after joining the team in March following 20 years at Red Bull.
It will be the first time he has held the job of team principal, having worked behind the scenes on car design since his career in sport began in the 1980s.
An Aston Martin statement said: “Over the past 14 months, Andy Cowell has led the team as CEO and team principal in implementing the much-needed structural changes to support the transition to a full works team in readiness for the new regulations in 2026.
“Having successfully laid the foundations, Andy Cowell will take a new role as chief strategy officer, reporting to executive chairman Lawrence Stroll…
“As managing technical partner, Adrian Newey will be responsible for guiding the technical team, including the trackside operations of the car and will take on the additional role of team principal from 2026.”
Newey said of his new role: “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, where 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.”
Former Red Bull colleague Horner, 52, had been linked with the job when his gardening leave from the Milton Keynes outfit finishes in the spring after an A$162 million payout.
Aston Martin are eighth in the 2025 Constructors’ Championship after back-to-back fifth-place finishes in 2023 and 2024.
Team owner Stroll added: “Andy Cowell has been a great leader this year. He’s focused 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.
“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.”
– This article was originally published by The Sun and was republished with permission
