After months of waiting and rumours about the future of the super designer who announced his farewell to Red Bull finally comes the end of this chapter. An end that actually contains a new beginning, a new era. Yes, because Adrian Newey, despite having recently left Formula 1, is preparing to return. In 2025, Adrian Newey will join Lawrence Stroll's team, Aston Martin, strengthening a team that dreams of winning a world title sooner or later. Dreams, ambitions, hopes. All contained in the color that Adrian Newey will wear from 2025, emerald green. Waiting for him will therefore be a driver with whom Newey has always said he wanted to work, Fernando Alonso.
After weeks of speculation and transfer rumours, Lawrence Stroll's team confirmed today in a press conference the agreement with the British engineer, marking the beginning of the “Newey Era”. Newey, after years of success at Red Bull, thus takes on a new challenge, remaining in England and bringing his extraordinary experience to the Silverstone team. Adrian Newey will begin working at the team’s headquarters in Silverstone from 1 March 2025, taking on a new role as Managing Technical Partner.
A new challenge for Newey and Aston Martin
Adrian Newey's move to Aston Martin represents one of the most significant market moves in recent years in the world of Formula 1. The engineer, who has a stellar career behind him with over ten world titles won as a designer, has been a key figure in the successes of Red Bull. Thanks to its aerodynamic and engineering innovations, the Austrian team has become a giant in the Circus, capable of dominating the scene with cutting-edge cars.
Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll has shown in recent years that he is willing to invest heavily to transform his team into a world title contender. The arrival of Newey, on a five-year, £30 million deal, is confirmation of Stroll’s determination to build a team capable of challenging the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari and even Red Bull. Having completed major investments in the team’s infrastructure, including a new wind tunnel and advanced engineering facilities, Stroll has now enlisted one of Formula 1’s brightest minds to lead the team’s future.
Stroll Relaunches Aston Martin With New Funding
Adrian Newey’s arrival is just one element of Lawrence Stroll’s turnaround plan for Aston Martin. The Canadian tycoon recently strengthened his position in the team with a major infusion of capital from US funds, demonstrating his long-term commitment to making the team a stable force in Formula 1. This financial move will not only allow Aston Martin to further strengthen its technical department, but will also provide the financial strength that will allow the team to continue investing in cutting-edge resources and compete with the top teams in the Circus.
The failure to land at Ferrari
Adrian Newey has often been linked to Ferrari, especially in recent years, when the Prancing Horse has been trying hard to solve the problems related to the competitiveness of its car. Rumors of a possible arrival of Newey in Maranello intensified during the first months of 2024, together with the news of Hamilton's arrival, but in the end the British engineer chose to stay in England, declining the idea of moving to Italy.
Adrian Newey has never hidden his attraction to the Cavallino. That fascination is felt by all those who approach this sport. But the destinies of these two names have never crossed and will continue not to do so. Given Newey's age, it is still difficult to think of an even more distant future dressed in Red.
The reasons behind this decision are not yet entirely clear, but it is clear that the Aston Martin project has exerted a strong attraction on Newey, pushing him to invest his skills in an emerging team rather than join the famous Ferrari, which in recent years has alternated great expectations with disappointments. The design freedom offered by Lawrence Stroll and the pharaonic salary also played a crucial role in Newey's final choice. For Ferrari, therefore, it is a great opportunity that has vanished.
Lawrence Stroll's statements
During the press conference, both Aston Martin and Adrian Newey made significant statements that reflected their excitement for this new adventure. Lawrence Stroll's team underlined how Newey's arrival represents a fundamental step in their long-term growth project, reiterating their commitment to investing in the best technical and human resources to build a winning team. The Canadian patron did not hide his ambition to bring Aston Martin back to the top of Formula 1, confirming his confidence in Newey as the right man to lead this transformation.
Lawrence Stroll, Executive Chairman, Aston Martin Aramco said: “This is great news. Adrian is the best in the world at what he does, he is in top form, and I am incredibly proud that he is joining Aston Martin Aramco Formula One. Team. It is the biggest story since the Aston Martin name returned to the sport and another demonstration of our ambition to build a Formula One team capable of challenging for world championships. As soon as Adrian became available, we knew we had to make it happen. Our initial conversations confirmed that there was a shared desire to collaborate on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Adrian is a pilot and one of the most competitive people I have ever met.”
“When he saw what we’ve built at Silverstone, our incredible AMR Technology Campus, the talented group of people we’ve assembled and the ultimate wind tunnel in the sport, he immediately understood what we’re trying to achieve. We’re serious, and so is he. Adrian shares our hunger and ambition, he believes in this project and he’ll help us write the next chapter in Aston Martin Aramco’s Formula One story.”
Adrian Newey: “Deeply inspired by Aston Martin”
Newey, for his part, expressed great satisfaction with his decision to join Aston Martin, underlining his enthusiasm for the new challenge that awaits him. He spoke of his desire to contribute to an ambitious project and the motivation that drove him to undertake this path. The famous designer also praised the team's cutting-edge infrastructure and the team's potential, highlighting how all this convinced him to embark on this new adventure.
“I am thrilled to be joining Aston Martin,” said Newey. “I have been hugely inspired and impressed by the passion and commitment that Lawrence brings to everything he is involved with. Lawrence is determined to build a world-beating team. He is the only majority owner of the team who is actively involved in the sport. His commitment is demonstrated in the development of the new AMR Technology Campus and wind tunnel at Silverstone, which are not only state-of-the-art but also have a layout that creates a fantastic environment to work in. Together with great partners such as Honda and Aramco, they have all the key pieces of infrastructure needed to make Aston Martin a world championship-winning team and I look forward to helping achieve that.”
With the arrival of Adrian Newey, Aston Martin is preparing for a profound technical renewal. The team, which showed promising signs but encountered difficulties in the 2024 season, can now count on one of the most brilliant minds of the Circus to relaunch its ambitions. The objective is clear: to build a car capable of competing consistently at the top of the championship and fighting for the world title in the coming years.
