Aston Martin is walking a tightrope as it navigates the hiring of Formula 1’s legendary designer Adrian Newey, slated to join the team in 2025. With Newey currently under contract with Red Bull and on gardening leave until March, Aston Martin is being exceedingly cautious to avoid any legal entanglements that could arise from early discussions with the design mastermind.
Newey’s decision to depart from Red Bull, where he helped engineer some of the most successful cars in F1 history, has shaken the motorsport world. While his impending role at Aston Martin as Managing Technical Partner is set to kickstart in 2025, team principal Mike Krack emphasized the importance of keeping things strictly legal during this transition period.
“I think you need to be very careful with these things,” Krack explained to Autosport. “We do not want to get into legal [matters] going forward. That would just not feel right.”
Krack’s words underscore Aston Martin’s desire to steer clear of any potential lawsuits over Newey’s involvement before his contractual obligations with Red Bull expire. The team is clearly playing it safe, ensuring that Newey’s transition is smooth and compliant with all regulations.
Meanwhile, the Silverstone-based team is enduring a challenging 2024 season, slipping to fifth in the Constructors’ Championship with just 86 points, far from their early-season ambitions. Despite the excitement surrounding Newey’s arrival, Krack warns against complacency and stresses that Aston Martin needs to demonstrate its capabilities before the designer steps in.
“‘25 should serve as an opportunity to show Adrian what we can do,” Krack said, turning the spotlight on his team to prove their mettle before Newey’s influence kicks in.
With Newey poised to lead Aston Martin’s design for the new technical regulations in 2026, there’s undeniable optimism within the team. However, Krack is adamant that Aston Martin cannot afford to rest on its laurels, especially after failing to close the gap to the top four teams this season.
“The target was clearly to close the gap, but we have not managed that,” Krack admitted. “Others have caught up more than we have closed. So that is the reality and something we need to understand and address.”
The message is clear: while the future looks bright with Newey’s genius on the horizon, Aston Martin must remain focused on the present to ensure they are ready to compete at the top level when he arrives.
