By James Broughton, July 19, 2025
Adrian Newey, the greatest living design genius of our time, exemplifies how one man can make a difference in an era when large engineering teams typically solve the complex challenge of developing a fast Formula 1 car. The notion of a single individual shaping success—aside from its inherently exclusionary undertones—is increasingly rare, reserved for a select few: think Colin Chapman, Enzo Ferrari, Fangio, Senna, Prost, Schumacher, Hamilton. Adrian Newey belongs to that elite club.
Arguably, Newey holds an elite status all his own. His unmatched track record in solving complex engineering problems begins at the drawing board—literally. Despite the widespread use of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software since the late 1960s, Newey still drafts his concepts by hand.
When Newey left Red Bull after nearly two decades to join Aston Martin, many expected the legendary designer to immediately transform the team’s 2025 car. But that’s not how Newey operates. He is focused entirely on Aston Martin’s 2026 challenger, preferring to work without distractions as he immerses himself in designing from a blank slate.
According to Fernando Alonso, Newey has shown no interest in the 2025 car. Since it wasn’t designed by him, he believes the team responsible should be the ones to solve the performance issues currently plaguing Aston Martin. At the British Grand Prix, Alonso revealed:
“He’s working, he’s involved. He’s very motivated. But it’s true that this year’s car doesn’t seem to interest him much. Every time we ask something about this year or how to improve something, he gets up and goes to another office. So he’s already in 2026 mode…”
“The way the grid is right now – with five or six cars within two-tenths – a tenth or even half a tenth is valuable. It also shows that the team keeps pushing. We’re not content being stuck in the midfield. We want to be as close as possible to the top teams by the end of the year.”
It seems unlikely that Newey is willing to invest his time in solving problems that were effectively engineered into the 2024 car. And while his logic is understandable, there’s no guarantee that 2026—with its regulation reset—will be a game changer for Aston Martin.
That said, with 14 Constructors’ and 13 Drivers’ Championships to his name, the numbers don’t lie. If anyone can mastermind a breakthrough for Aston Martin in 2026, it’s Adrian Newey.