Adrian Newey to Aston Martin: Contract, prospects, 2026 F1 regulations and more

Following months of speculation, Adrian Newey has officially been unveiled as the new managing technical partner at Aston Martin.

The legendary Formula 1 designer announced in May he would be departing Red Bull after 19 years with the constructor.

Newey's acquisition is a significant show of ambition from Aston Martin, with their owner Lawrence Stroll investing heavily into the team's infrastructure with the view to assembling a championship-winning car.

Here's everything you need to know about Newey's switch to Aston Martin.

Adrian Newey's Aston Martin contract

It's been widely reported that Newey has signed a five-year contract worth up to £30million a year, including bonuses and add-ons.

Newey's new annual wage exceeds that of 17 drivers on the grid, with only Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc earning a larger salary.

The 65-year-old will commence work with Aston Martin on 1 March 2025 following the completion of Red Bull's first hypercar, the RB17.

Adrian Newey's previous teams

• March/Leyton House: 1988-1990
• Williams: 1991-1996
• McLaren: 1997-2005
• Red Bull: 2006-2024

Newey's involvement in F1 dates all the way back to 1986.

Having briefly sampled Indy Car for two years, Newey has spells with Haas Lola and Newman-Haas before being hired as chief designer for March Engineering in 1988.

March became Leyton House Racing in 1990 and though his time with the constructor soured - Newey was fired in the summer - the designer was head-hunted by Williams in 1991.

Working in collaboration with technical director Patrick Head with superior resources, Newey designed the revolutionary FW14B, which won a total of nine races in 1992 as Nigel Mansell claimed the title. Another championship was delivered in 1993, with Alain Prost securing his fourth success in the Williams FW15C.

Championship triumphs for Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve followed before Newey joined McLaren in 1997, where his successful streak continued with back-to-back titles for Mika Hakkinen in 1998 and 1999.

Red Bull Racing were able to prise Newey away from McLaren with a lucrative deal in November 2005 and after several years of steady progression, Newey designed a race-winning car in 2009.

In 2010, the RB6 proved to be the class of the field, taking pole position in 15 of the 19 races as Sebastian Vettel claimed the first of his four world titles.

Red Bull's competitiveness deteriorated in the hybrid era, though Newey's designs were hindered by an inferior Renault power unit. An association with Honda gave Newey the tools to create a car capable of competing for the title and Max Verstappen returned the favour, sealing Red Bull's first Drivers' Championship since 2014.

Newey's RB19 was one of the most dominant cars in F1 history as it finished the 2023 season with a 95.45% win rate.

Aston Martin drivers

Aston Martin have two-time world champion Fernando Alonso tied down for another two seasons and the Spaniard will be 45 by the time his contract expires in 2026.

Alonso's teammate Lance Stroll, who is the son of Aston Martin owner Lawrence, is also under contract until the end of 2026 after agreeing a new deal in June.

Time is evidently running out for Alonso to get his hands on an elusive third title, though he will hope Newey can have an immediate impact when the new regulations come into play ahead of the 2026 season.

Aston Martin prospects

Aston Martin returned to the F1 grid after a 61-year absence in 2021 following the rebranding of Racing Point.

Lawrence Stroll has made little secret of his ambition to lead Aston Martin to the summit and the team appeared to be on a promising trajectory at the start of 2023, with Alonso finishing on the podium in six of the opening eight races.

Performances deteriorated as the season progressed and the team have failed to halt that decline in 2024, despite a catalogue of upgrades being introduced over the course of the campaign.

The introduction of new regulations in 2026 presents a major opportunity for Aston Martin to establish itself towards the front of the grid and a series of key engineering additions are an indication of their eagerness to seize that chance.

Newey will reacquaint himself with Dan Follows, who worked under the 65-year-old at Red Bull for 15 years, and former Mercedes engine chief Andy Cowell will join as CEO. Ferrari's chassis technical director Enrico Cardile is also set to start in 2025 as the new chief technical officer.

Stroll has also invested in a new, state-of-the-art factory at their Silverstone base, laying the foundations for their ambitious objectives.

Newey is a figure everyone would love to have in their ranks and his capture will lend Aston Martin a huge advantage when the new regulations come into effect at the end of next season.

Adrian Newey and F1's 2026 regulations

F1 is set to undergo another radical overhaul in 2026 with the introduction of new regulations which will feature more agile cars.

The changes are being made to improve the competitiveness of the sport and help Formula 1 in their pursuit of greater sustainability.

2026 cars are set to be more aerodynamically complex, with the introduction of active aerodynamics in the form of moveable front and rear wings. They will be more nimble, with weight decreasing by 30kg in comparison to the 2022 cars, while downforce will be reduced by 30% and drag by 55%.

Having an individual as innovative and experienced as Newey gives Aston Martin a great chance of making a successful interpretation of the rules, with teams looking to exploit the regulations to create a competitive package and gain an edge on rivals.

Nothing is a guarantee but Newey is as close to one as you will find.

Read the 2026 F1 regulations in full