Aston Martin has confirmed that Adrian Newey, Formula One’s most successful designer of the modern era, will join the team next season. Newey has signed a long-term contract with the British marque, reportedly worth up to £30 million per year. Additionally, he will become a shareholder in the team, marking a significant move from Aston Martin’s billionaire owner, Lawrence Stroll.
The announcement was made on Tuesday morning at the team’s Silverstone factory. The 65-year-old Newey is expected to start working with Aston Martin, including drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, in March of the coming year.
“I am thrilled to be joining the Aston Martin team,” Newey said. “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 create a world-beating team.”
Newey’s appointment is seen as a major victory for Aston Martin, with his expertise in interpreting and leveraging regulations to create highly competitive cars. His involvement is expected to significantly influence the design of Aston Martin’s new car for the major regulatory overhaul in 2026.
“It’s the biggest story since the Aston Martin name returned to the sport,” Stroll stated. “This move is another demonstration of our ambition to build a Formula One team capable of fighting for world championships.”
Newey has earned a formidable reputation in Formula One, designing cars that have secured 12 drivers’ and 13 constructors’ championships across three different teams: Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull. Since his first championship win with Nigel Mansell and Williams in 1992, he has contributed to titles for Alain Prost, Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen, and Sebastian Vettel. His recent design work with Red Bull has proven exceptionally successful, helping Max Verstappen dominate the last two seasons, including securing 19 wins from 22 races last year.