Alonso Sees Newey Promotion as “Logical Step”

Newey joined Aston Martin at the start of 2025 as a shareholder and Managing Technical Partner after leaving Red Bull, and will formally replace Andy Cowell as team boss in a management reshuffle ahead of the new regulations. According to Alonso, the decision fits Aston Martin’s long‑term vision under owner Lawrence Stroll and reflects the growing influence Newey has already had on the project.

“He Was Already Managing the Team”

Alonso explained that, in practice, Newey had already been doing much of what a team principal does on the technical and organisational side. The Spaniard said Newey was not only leading car development, but also identifying what people and departments Aston Martin needed to strengthen, and which areas were lower priority, effectively shaping the team’s internal structure.

He contrasted this with Cowell’s new role, noting that the former Mercedes engine chief will now focus more on the Honda power unit project and its integration with the chassis for 2026, splitting responsibilities so each leader can maximize their strengths.

Newey’s Leadership Style: Relentless Performance

Alonso reiterated that with Newey there is “only one style: performance,” describing him as obsessed with the “unlimited search for performance and perfection.” He called Newey both a “great competitor” and “great leader,” and predicted Aston Martin’s already performance‑driven culture will become “even more extreme” under his formal leadership.

“I have wanted to work with Newey for so long… it is a major personal and sporting milestone as F1 enters a new rules era in 2026.”

Balancing Team Boss Duties and Car Development

At the same time, Alonso cautioned that the modern team principal role involves media, commercial and political responsibilities that can distract from pure engineering. He expressed hope that Aston Martin’s structure, with Lawrence Stroll and Andy Cowell sharing high‑level duties, will allow Newey to stay deeply involved in car performance rather than being “bogged down” by non‑technical tasks.

Alonso believes that, between Stroll’s investment and vision, Cowell’s power‑unit focus and Newey’s overall leadership, Aston Martin is “in good hands” and well‑placed to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season that has left the team only eighth in the constructors’ standings.

What Newey’s Promotion Means for 2026

Newey’s first spell as a formal team principal comes after a career defined by title‑winning cars at Williams, McLaren and Red Bull, and he now aims to turn Aston Martin into a fourth championship‑winning organisation. With a new Honda partnership, a state‑of‑the‑art factory and a star driver like Alonso under contract, expectations are high that 2026 will mark a reset and a serious push to the front.

Alonso framed the change as both a reward for Newey’s early impact and a statement of intent to rivals, warning that his “extreme” pursuit of performance in a wider leadership role will only make Aston Martin more dangerous in F1’s next era.