Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
Renowned Formula One designer Adrian Newey is joining the Aston Martin racing team from Red Bull, in a coup for Canadian tycoon Lawrence Stroll who is targeting the world championships.
The British aerodynamics expert will become a shareholder in the Aston Martin racing team and take on the title of managing technical partner.
Newey’s departure, which Red Bull earlier this year said would come in early 2025, is a blow to the team, where the 65-year-old had worked for reigning world champions since 2006. He played a critical role in creating cars that drove the team to seven F1 drivers’ and six constructors’ championships.
Newey’s move comes as Red Bull has been mired in controversy, a female employee having earlier this season accused team boss Christian Horner of inappropriate behaviour. Horner has denied the allegations and Red Bull cleared him of wrongdoing following a barrister-led probe.
Aston Martin is fifth in the constructor standings in this season’s championship, well behind Mercedes in the place above. Stroll is betting that Newey’s involvement can transform Aston Martin’s fortunes in F1. The team finished fifth last year and seventh in 2022.
Newey is joining on an annual salary which could rise to £30mn a year, according to the BBC. Aston Martin was did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Building a championship-winning team would boost Aston Martin’s profile in a sport that has surged in popularity under the ownership of US group Liberty Media. Boosted by Netflix series Drive to Survive and the addition of new races in Jeddah, Miami and Las Vegas, F1 has reinforced its status as a marketing platform for sellers of luxury cars such as Stroll, who is also executive chair of Aston Martin Lagonda.
Stroll brought the Aston Martin brand back to F1 for the first time in more than 60 years in 2021. It follows major investment in infrastructure and facilities, to equip the team with the foundations required to win world titles.
Newey is the latest high-profile figure to join the Aston Martin F1 group, following the appointment of former Mercedes engine boss Andy Cowell as chief executive.
While Red Bull and Mercedes have dominated the competition for years, F1 is set to introduce new, lighter cars from 2026, with changes to aerodynamic rules, creating new puzzles of air flow for Newey to solve.
“Adrian is the best in the world at what he does — he is at the top of his game,” Stroll said.
Newey said that Stroll’s commitment was evident from the development of the racing team’s new “state of the art” technology campus and wind tunnel at Silverstone.
“Together with great partners like Honda and Aramco, they have all the key pieces of infrastructure needed to make Aston Martin a world championship-winning team and I am very much looking forward to helping reach that goal,” Newey added.
Fernando Alonso, the double world champion, and Stroll’s son Lance are the drivers for the F1 team.
