Aston Martin’s Big Shake-Up: Adrian Newey to Become Team Principal in 2026

The Formula 1 landscape is preparing for a major transformation, and Aston Martin has just made one of its boldest moves yet. With sweeping regulatory changes coming in 2026, the team has officially announced that legendary designer Adrian Newey will step into the role of Team Principal.

The 2026 season is expected to usher in a new era: overhauled power-unit rules, new aerodynamic demands, and even a new team joining the grid. Seeing this as a crucial opportunity, Aston Martin is reshaping its leadership structure well ahead of time.

Cowell Moves Into Strategy Role

Andy Cowell, who has served as both CEO and Team Principal over the past 14 months, implemented key structural changes to ready the organization for the future. According to the team’s statement, Cowell will transition into the role of Chief Strategy Officer starting in 2026, reporting directly to Lawrence Stroll.

Leveraging his extensive power-unit experience, Cowell will work closely with Honda, Aramco, and Valvoline to optimize their technical partnership. Ensuring the seamless integration of the new engine, fuel and chassis will be a primary focus of his new position.

Newey Takes the Helm

Meanwhile, Adrian Newey — long regarded as the greatest designer in F1 history — will take charge of the technical organization, including track operations, and officially become Team Principal in 2026.

Cowell commented on the transition:
“After laying the foundations with Adrian and implementing necessary structural changes, I believe now is the right moment to step into a strategic role focused on the upcoming regulations.”

Lawrence Stroll praised both leaders:
“Andy has been an outstanding leader. His work to build a world-class team and strengthen our culture has been invaluable. Adrian becoming Team Principal allows us to fully unlock his creativity and technical excellence.”

Newey himself expressed optimism:
“I’ve witnessed tremendous talent within this team over the past nine months. As we position ourselves for competitiveness in 2026, I’m excited to take on this responsibility. The integration of the new power unit, alongside Honda and our other partners, will be a crucial part of our journey.”

Aston Martin is clearly gearing up for an aggressive push into the new F1 era — and placing its trust in two of the sport’s most influential figures.