Adrian Newey, born on 26 December 1958 in Colchester, will be Aston Martin’s new team principal from 2026. The Briton made the switch in 2025 from Red Bull Racing, where for years, as Chief Technical Officer, he was at the root of unprecedented success. Under his stewardship Red Bull secured seven drivers’ titles and six constructors’ championships. With his singular technical vision, Newey is tasked with taking Aston Martin to the absolute top of Formula 1.
After studying aerospace engineering at the University of Southampton, it was clear: Newey wanted to be in motorsport. After a brief spell in IndyCar in the 1980s, his Formula 1 adventure began in 1988 at March Engineering as chief designer. Success followed quickly. With Ivan Capelli at the wheel, the March 881 immediately delivered podiums at Spa-Francorchamps and Estoril. Despite being dismissed in 1990 after disappointing results, Newey soon found a home at Williams, where the real success would begin.
Dominance at Williams
In 1991 Newey joined Williams as chief designer. His first creation, the FW14, impressed straight away, but a year later he produced the real breakthrough. In the pioneering FW14B — the first car with active suspension — Nigel Mansell dominated the season. Newey then raised the bar again in 1993 with the FW15C. The car was packed with advanced technology, including launch control and ABS, and once more proved the benchmark. Alain Prost took full advantage and claimed his fourth and final world title. After seven seasons and nine championships, tension began to build. Newey wanted greater control, but owner Frank Williams refused to cede it. When Williams replaced Damon Hill with Heinz‑Harald Frentzen in 1996 without consultation, Newey had reached his limit. McLaren made a handsome offer and Newey departed.
Glory and frustration at McLaren
Newey moved to McLaren in 1997 to take on the role of technical director. It proved to be a masterstroke. The MP4-13 dominated the 1998 season opener in Australia and immediately announced McLaren as a serious threat. Mika Häkkinen became embroiled in a titanic fight with Michael Schumacher and clinched his first world title. McLaren kept challenging for wins regularly, but Newey’s designs ultimately came up short against Schumacher and Ferrari. Frustration grew, in part because Newey increasingly felt constrained by Ron Dennis’s autocratic leadership. That set the scene for his departure and the start of a new chapter at Red Bull.
Golden years at Red Bull
In 2006 Newey made the switch to Red Bull as chief technology officer. The 2009 regulation changes presented a huge opening, and the Brit seized it. Red Bull took its first victory with Sebastian Vettel in China, and a year later began an impressive run of championships. Between 2010 and 2013 Newey and Red Bull collected eight titles: four drivers’ championships with Vettel and four constructors’ crowns.
After a difficult spell, Red Bull found title form again in 2021 with Max Verstappen at the wheel. Newey developed the RB18 ahead of the 2022 rule overhaul, and it paid immediate dividends. The evolved RB19 became in 2023 the most dominant F1 car to date, taking 21 wins from 22 races. Success continued into 2024, but tensions behind the scenes grew between Newey and team principal Christian Horner. An internal investigation into Horner exacerbated the situation, and after nineteen years Newey decided to leave Red Bull.
New challenge at Aston Martin
Newey signed with Aston Martin in 2024 as Managing Technical Partner and shareholder, focused on the new 2026 regulations. In November 2025 there was a surprising twist: from 2026 Newey will also serve as Aston Martin’s team principal. It’s the first time in his career he fills that role. In this new era of Formula 1 the 67-year-old designer is stepping up to the challenge once again.
