Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya predicts a bright future for Aston Martin as the team gears up for 2026. Next year, the racing team will debut a car designed by Adrian Newey. Montoya believes that the combination of Newey’s unparalleled design skills and the new technical regulations could be a game-changer.
Adrian Newey joined Aston Martin as a technical partner at the end of 2024 and has since led the design team. The technical structure was further strengthened with the arrival of Enrico Cardile from Ferrari, while the team in Silverstone made significant investments in an extensive, state-of-the-art headquarters. Everything is geared towards title success under the new 2026 regulations, which aim to level the playing field through major changes in both the chassis and engine regulations.
‘Aston Martin will win the title within three years’
Montoya has no doubt about the potential of the British team. “You can’t write off Fernando Alonso for the title next year,” he emphasized to a betting platform. If 2026 proves to be too early, he sees the following year as a certainty: “If Adrian Newey doesn’t do well with Aston Martin next year, he will in 2027.” The former driver goes even further: “Aston Martin will have a world champion within three years, I guarantee you.”
The role of engine partner Honda is also crucial, he stressed. The Japanese automotive giant has chosen an exclusive partnership with Aston Martin from 2026. “Honda will not stand still; every time Honda is involved in Formula 1, they win.” However, Montoya remains slightly cautious. “I’m not 100 percent sure that Aston Martin will be competitive next year, but if Newey finds that loophole, they’ll win everything,” he concluded.
