Fernando Alonso has admitted that he reached out to legendary Formula 1 aerodynamicist Adrian Newey in a bid to entice him to Aston Martin after Newey’s shock announcement of leaving Red Bull earlier this year. The 65-year-old Briton, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in F1 history, played a key role in Red Bull’s success over the last two decades and has now signed with Aston Martin in a massive deal that even includes a shareholder stake.
Rumors swirled throughout the paddock about Newey being in contact with multiple teams, including Ferrari. However, Alonso revealed that he took matters into his own hands, texting Newey personally to express his desire to work with the aero-genius. Alonso explained that he was eager to see Newey join Aston Martin, believing that the Briton would be key to unlocking the team’s potential.
“I was asking various people in the team if we had contacted Adrian. I even ended up contacting him. I have his phone number and texted him: ‘What a surprise. If you ever think you would like a new challenge, I would love to work with you one day,’” Alonso said.
Alonso also disclosed that Aston Martin Chairman Lawrence Stroll kept him updated on the ongoing negotiations with Newey. When the deal was confirmed, the two-time world champion expressed immense pride that Newey chose to believe in Aston Martin’s long-term project.
“When Adrian decided to join, I was extremely happy but also extremely proud – proud that he wanted to work with us and that he believed in our project,” Alonso added.
Alonso’s contract with Aston Martin runs until the end of 2026, coinciding with Formula 1’s significant regulation changes. While he hasn’t ruled out continuing his career beyond that, he indicated that his decision would depend on how the team evolves under Newey’s influence.
“Adrian will arrive in March next year and dedicate his time to 2026, so let’s see how I feel at the end of ’26. It will be a decision that we make together as a team, with Lawrence [Stroll], with Adrian,” Alonso said.
Newey’s arrival has undoubtedly revitalized Alonso’s hopes of a third world championship, and the Spaniard will be eager to see the impact of Newey’s designs on Aston Martin’s performance for the 2026 season. Fans will have to wait patiently to witness Newey’s legendary expertise translate into success for the Silverstone-based team.
