Aston Martin leaves F1 in awe with an astonishing surprise move
Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll's squad has secured Formula 1's most esteemed designer, Adrian Newey. His exit from defending champions Red Bull had been widely speculated, with a shift to Ferrari seemingly imminent. However, things are taking an unexpected turn.
Stroll is leaving no stone unturned for the "crucial piece of the puzzle" and the "pathway to success". Newey is set to pocket a staggering 30 million pounds, approximately 35 million euros, at Aston Martin. Come March 2025, the coveted design whiz will join the uprising Formula 1 team. As "Joint Technical Director" and shareholder, Newey will steer the team into uncharted territories. His grand introduction happened on Tuesday at Silverstone's main campus.
"He's the best at what he does. No one comes close to him," declared Stroll. "He's a gentleman, a winner, a fighter. He's got the passion and the drive to win." Despite the Azerbaijan Grand Prix happening on Sunday (13:00/Sky and live updates on ntv.de), "the most significant and thrilling news in the entire Formula 1" is underway by Stroll's team, he added.
"We aim to have a better car in 2025, but our primary focus is on 2026," Stroll stressed. Post-2026, new regulations will apply, and Newey's formidable task will be to construct the future World Champion car. He's aced this before: Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen clinched titles with cars designed by Newey at Red Bull.
Industry turned upside down
Newey's decision to depart in May stirred the entire industry. Ferrari was particularly keen on luring him. Newey would have had Lewis Hamilton, who was to switch from Mercedes to Ferrari, as a teammate. However, Aston Martin snatched the win.
The partnership is long-term, with Newey's role crystal clear: Lead the team with drivers Fernando Alonso (Spain) and Lance Stroll (Canada) from the mid-table to the championship. "I am absolutely certain that Aston Martin will make an unprecedented leap - maybe even this year itself," predicted Ralf Schumacher on Sky.
Newey's astronomical salary is "mind-blowingly low" considering the value he adds to the team, stated Lawrence Stroll. Newey looked forward to the challenge, and Stroll described him as "inspiring and awe-inspiring". His "primary motivation" is to "extract maximum performance from cars", he claimed.
Red Bull's unease
Newey's success at Red Bull spans years, having been with the team since 2006. Vettel claimed four consecutive titles from 2010 to 2013, and Verstappen has triumphed in the last three seasons. Newey's tenure at Red Bull will end in the first quarter of 2025.
This season, Verstappen still leads the championship, but there's tension at Red Bull. Even before Newey's May announcement, the atmosphere had soured, and the controversies surrounding team principal Christian Horner at the start of the season remain unresolved. Verstappen recently referred to the car as a "monster", and his father Jos publicly demanded improvements.
However, the atmosphere at Aston Martin has been radically different since Newey joined. Alonso referred to it as the "biggest day in the team's history". "Adrian has won more titles than anyone else in the field," said Lance Stroll, beaming with pride.
The Aston Martin team will greatly benefit from Newey's expertise, as he will serve as their Joint Technical Director and shareholder, aiming to guide them towards uncharted territories. Contrary to expectations, Newey chose Aston Martin over a potential shift to Ferrari.
