How good will Newey really be at Aston Martin?
Image: Red Bull Content Pool/Getty Images
The biggest driver signing might’ve been Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari deal, but what was the biggest non-driver signing last year? I’d argue, the biggest team personnel switch, maybe even in the last decade or so, would be that of Adrian Newey.
After nearly two decades with Red Bull, Adrian Newey announced his departure from the team last in May last year. It was shortly followed by yet another announcement confirming the 65-year-old’s signing a contract for Aston Martin.
However, with Newey officially starting his role some time this month, will we see progress from the get-go?
Taming the bull
Image: Whisper Films/Getty Images
Last year was a tumultuous year for Red Bull. The team dropped to third in the constructors’ championship after two successive years of dominance. Sergio Perez was miles behind Max Verstappen, who was locked in a semi-competitive championship battle against McLaren’s Lando Norris.
For Adrian Newey, 2010-2013 were considered his best years at Red Bull, having won four consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ titles with Sebastian Vettel.
However, I’d argue that Newey’s best came out in 2023, with the RB19B. To be spoken in the same sentence as Ayrton Senna is often a privilege. Newey managed to do just that as he beat McLaren’s 1988 record for most wins in a season. With Red Bull at the top of the podium for all but one race, it is extremely impressive, especially when you consider there were 24 races in 2023.
Chief designer of Senna’s 1988 McLaren MP4/4, Steve Nichols, hailed Newey as a “genius” on the Race Reaction Podcast in August 2023 – that’s high praise.
Now, with all this in mind, why did the Brit decide to leave such a brilliant team?
Back in the saddle
The first challenge was all the way back in 2021, in the middle of the infamous championship. Newey had suffered a fractured skull following a bike accident in Croatia.
Fortunately, the designer was with former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone, who made use of his vast phone book and had Newey admitted to a hospital in no time.
Newey recently spoke about this incident on the Formula for Success Podcast, hosted by David Coulthard and his manager Eddie Jordan.
Adrian Newey on his bike crash in 2021:
“So Bernie offered to put his boat on. We were in Croatia. So he then rang his ex, who ran the prime minister, who ran the...Head of neurosurgery, who is on holiday in Bosnia or something. But wheels moved to get me admitted very quickly. I was then admitted into this Croatian hospital.”
Following this, Newey’s second-in-command, Pierre Waché, took an interim role which he has since inherited following the exit of the much-loved designer and engineer.
Waché may not have a storied career like Newey but he still has a brilliant CV, enough to make any motorsport engineer jealous.
Starting out at Michelin in 2001, the Frenchman worked in their Formula One division and was responsible for interactions between tyres and track conditions. Following the termination of Michelin’s contract with F1 at the end of the 2006 season, Waché was headhunted by BMW Sauber, where he was their performance engineer.
Image: Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
After a few seasons with the Sauber outfit, the 50-year-old moved to Red Bull in 2013, where he worked his way up to technical director.
With Waché surely set to fill Newey’s shoes, only time will tell if his tenure as chief designer will be as successful.
Image: Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool
The news of Newey’s departure was also followed by a string of slanderous and image-staining accusations made against Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.
Horner was accused of “controlling behaviour” and was the subject of an alleged smear campaign, which might’ve been a factor in Newey’s move.
As his Red Bull chapter comes to an end, we now look forward to a green, even British Racing Green future.
New digs
Image: Aston Martin F1
Having been involved with Aston Martin as a title sponsor at Red Bull for a few years, Newey worked on the Aston Martin Valkyrie, a project that he led.
His affinity for the brand was already so strong, having been associated with it for so many years. All he needed was a little incentive.
Lawrence Stroll’s takeover of the Force India outfit in mid-2018 eventually resulted in Aston Martin returning to the sport in 2021, after 61 years of absence.
Stroll’s ambitious plan was to turn the Silverstone-based team into a championship contender in just five seasons. While others may see this as plain silly, the development of Aston Martin’s facilities has been beyond impressive.
In just a handful of years, Stroll has erected a concrete jungle in the middle of Northampton’s countryside. The progress of the team’s HQ in Silverstone can be seen in this image.
With a couple of star talents, including ex-Mercedes Andy Cowell and ex-Ferrari Enrico Cardile, Newey’s signing seemed almost inevitable.
We don’t know how much the 65-year-old was offered, but we can assume that he was promised a pretty penny when approached by Aston Martin.
Newey will officially move into the Silverstone campus with his iconic pencil around the “fifth, sixth of March,” according to Newey’s manager, Eddie Jordan.
Whether the full impact of Newey’s talent will be felt throughout the 2025 season will have to be seen. There’s no doubt the Brit will be focusing heavily on the imminent 2026 regulation changes, where he will try to come on top with his new team.
I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say that we’re excited for a refreshed Adrian Newey in 2025, with new challenges along the way. Bring on 2025!
