Aston Martin Responds to Newey’s Challenge on Development Cycle
In a recent podcast appearance, Andy Cowell, Team Principal and CEO of Aston Martin F1, addressed comments made by Red Bull’s Adrian Newey, which he indicated were a catalyst for accelerating the team’s development efforts. Newey criticized the performance of Aston Martin’s loop simulator, suggesting that rectifying its shortcomings could take "probably a two-year project in truth."
Cowell, unfazed by Newey’s assertions, expressed confidence in his team’s capabilities, stating, “Everything that we’re doing can improve and needs to improve. Adrian thinks the same. The great thing with Adrian is he knows the level that we need to get to.” He elaborated that the quick pace of improvement is essential, noting, “Is it going to take us two years to get there? No, it’s not."
Acknowledging Newey’s provocation, Cowell remarked, “Adrian’s provoking us. He’s saying it’s going to take everybody two years to achieve that. And everybody in the factory is saying, ‘well, we’ll show him!’” This highlights a determined shift within Aston Martin, aiming to turn years of development into months.
Cowell has rekindled his collaboration with Newey, with whom he first worked at McLaren in 2004. He emphasized the positive dynamics of their renewed partnership, focusing on the engineering of the race car rather than managerial aspects.
With Aston Martin set to switch to Honda engines for the 2026 season, Cowell’s extensive background in F1 hybrid engines—gained while leading Mercedes’ High Performance Powertrains division—positions him to facilitate this transition effectively. He commented, “I’m a big believer in everybody that’s working on the racing car… we can equate what we’re doing from a performance perspective in the common currency of milliseconds.”
As Aston Martin targets significant enhancements in its performance metrics, Cowell’s leadership and collaboration with experienced designers like Newey will be crucial in navigating the competitive landscape of Formula 1.
