He is one of F1’s signings of the century. Undoubtedly, the big bomb of the ‘Great Circus’ came with the announcement of Hamilton signing for Ferrari at the start of the year. It’s now official: Adrian Newey signs for Aston Martinas announced by Lawrence Stroll, owner of the group, in a press conference.
“This is one of the most exciting news for Aston Martin and for the history of F1 in general. Adrian Newey will first join as a shareholder and as a technical partner of our F1 team”the Canadian revealed.
Considered as The best engineer and car designer in F1 history and now, Newey, 65, will join Aston Martin in the first quarter of 2025 (starting March 2) with the great goal and priority of creating a champion car in 2026. The 2026 season is everyone’s great priority because it will be the year in which a new and revolutionary technical and engine regulation is released, with cars and machines different from the current ones.
Although no details have been revealed, there is speculation of a 4-year contract at a rate of around 24 million euros per season. And good things are expensive.
That massive change during the 2026 season is the priority, because it represents an opportunity for everyone, a great opportunity for the established order on the grid to completely change in the fight for wins and titles. Aston Martin wants to take advantage of these new rules to start the first period of victories after the growth of facilities and structure of the team in recent years. Other opponents will also try, but having F1 aerodynamics guruan expert in ground effect cars like Adrian Newey, always gives a competitive advantage before the start.
The clearest example is 2022, when the previous change in technical regulations took place. Adrian Newey knows how to read these new rules like no one else and solve the rebound problems from ground effect before others to create with his pencil and paper (he still designs by hand, the old fashioned) the dominant car of the era: the Red Bull that Verstappen crushed in 2022 and 2023a single-seater that in 2023 became the most dominant in history because between Verstappen and Checo they won 21 out of 22 World Cup races. In that car, Max achieved an absolute record of 19 wins out of 22 (86% of all course events).
Coincidence or not, when Adrian Newey left Red Bull, the car started to suffer a lot of problems with evolutions that didn’t work.with many setbacks in the balance, and at this time the Red Bull was no longer the best car on the grid as it was overtaken by McLaren, Mercedes and on some tracks by Ferrari.
A dream track record
With his more than 40 years of experience, Adrian Newey has been the mastermind behind achieving 12 constructors’ world championships with three different teams: Williams, McLaren and Red Bull and 13 drivers’ titles. At Williams he made champions of Nigel Mansell (1992), Alain Prost (1993), Damon Hill (1996) and Jacques Villeneuve (1997, he was already at McLaren but participated in the design of that FW19.). In McLaren, with his car Mika Hakkinen was crowned twice (1998 and 1999).
In Red Bull had a period of dominance for 4 consecutive years with Sebastian Vettel’s 4 titles (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013). He managed to match the massive superiority of Mercedes in 2021 with a car that allowed Max Verstappen won the 2021 title to Hamilton in a controversial finish. And the new F1 era started in 2022 by crushing two more titles for Verstappen (2022 and 2023). And if Verstappen won the title in 2024that record will grow because he owns the base car.
ADRIAN NEWEY’S ACHIEVEMENTS IN F1
Year / Team / PILOTS TITLE / CONSTRUCTORS TITLE
1992 Williams – Nigel Mansell – Williams
1993 Williams – Alain Prost – Williams
1994 Williams – – Williams
1996 Williams – Damon Hill Williams
1997 Signs for McLaren – J. Villeneuve – Williams*
1998 McLaren – Mika Hakkinen – McLaren
1999 McLaren – Mika Hakkinen
2010 Red Bull – Sebastian Vettel – Red Bull
2011 Red Bull – Sebastian Vettel – Red Bull
2012 Red Bull – Sebastian Vettel – Red Bull
2013 Red Bull – Sebastian Vettel – Red Bull
2021 Red Bull – Max Verstappen
2022 Red Bull – Max Verstappen – Red Bull
2023 Red Bull Max Verstappen – Red Bull
TOTAL 13 PILOT TITLES, 12 CONSTRUCTORS
*Williams won the title in 1997 with a car designed by a Newey who went to McLaren
With Newey, Alonso can dream big
The Aston Martin of 2024 did not perform as expected and Fernando Alonso was fighting in the midfield with few weapons. And in 2025, the car will be an evolution of the current car, so the most logical thing 2026 will be thought of as Fernando Alonso’s great first time to wish for successes and achievements with Adrian Newey leading the project, something that represents a greater guarantee than any other engineer.
However, just because Aston Martin signed the best engineer does not mean that in 2026 it will have the best car. F1 is not math. It depends on many factors and 2026 There is a big change in the engine regulations, so the success of that car does not rest only in the hands of Neweyhow good the new engine is sling bag (which will only be carried by Aston Martin) compared to other machines such as Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull’s Ford.
At that time, in 2026, Fernando Alonso will be 45 years old and he does not know how long he will continue in F1. There’s also no telling what year Adrian Newey will build the winning car, either as early as 2026, or later. But it can be the biggest chance of Alonso’s career since he fought for titles in 2010 and 2012 with Ferrari below the Red Bull created by Newey. This time he was with Adrian. No one doubts that if he finally has a championship car, he will seize it with his bare hands and driving skills, no matter how old you are.
If in the next few years he gets a winning car after so many waiting courses, his career may last longer than expected. His physique is not a problem at present despite being 43 years old. The clearest proof is that his reflexes are better than ever: at Monza, for example, he was the first to react at the traffic light at the start in front of the youngsters on the grid.
The icing on the cake of an exciting project
The signing of Adrian Newey is the icing on the cake of an exciting project that needs time. At least, until 2026. A good start to the 2023 season has put more pressure on Aston Martin. But this is a team in full construction, with a brand new, giant new factory that they have yet to put into peak performance.. And for this, fThey highlighted two differential and absolutely key elements that will be in full capacity when Adrian Newey arrives: the wind tunnel and the new simulator.
For now, Aston Martin has to use the Mercedes wind tunnel, which means they can’t use it whenever they want and have to wait their turn. Starting in 2025, it will be its own wind tunnel and its own technology, and most importantly, under Newey’s supervision. Everyone will stay at home. And the new simulator will be cutting edge. This includes several mega facilities that MD has already visited in 2023, with the highest technology available for performance.
The Aston Martin Galacticos
In F1 you need facilities and technology to be a champion. A winning driver like Alonso. And also people of rank and distinction. They will have them too. And it was that Newey is just the tip of the iceberg of a deep restructuring masterminded by owner Lawrence Strollwith many engineering stars, with many of the ‘galacticos’ of F1.
In recent months, Aston Martin has announced the signing of Andy Cowell, the former Mercedes engine gurus, who has been a key player in Hamilton’s titles with the silver arrows and who will take the position of CEO vacated by Whitmarsh. Following this, he announced the arrival of another first sword number Enrico Cardile, former head of the chassis department of none other than Ferrariappointed technical director of Aston Martin, above Dan Fallows, who for his part has worked with Adrian Newey at Red Bull.
The trident seems magical and We had to add one who is the head of aerodynamics for Hamilton champion Mercedes, Eric Bladin. Aston Martin’s Fantastic Four. But the main piece is missing to complete the luxury ‘repoker’: Newey will be the star of the tree, the icing on the cake of Aston Martin’s ambitious project where Fernando Alonso dreams of fighting for wins and his desired third F1 title from 2026.
He said ‘no’ to Ferrari for Alonso to become champion
Adrian Newey dared to say ‘no’ to a dizzying offer from Ferrari, a team where he has a unique choice to make history, because he could end his career remembered as the man who brought back glory at Ferrari after many blank years. and the one that led Hamilton to a record 8 F1 titles wearing red. It seemed like the perfect option, but Adrian believed in the countless resources of Aston Martin, its facilities, its technology, its people and in Alonso’s hands. He wants to turn a team he has a good relationship with, a British team, into champions. He wants to remember it too.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
