They haven’t confirmed it, but no one has denied it either: Adrian Newey was also behind the new features (and improvements) of Aston Martin at Imola, the last Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. With high optimism in the team about what was seen in the race and downplaying the major strategy error of trying to get Alonso to mark cars that were out of his reach, Andy Cowell was very positive after the last race, in which Fernando Alonso, with very bad luck, finished eleventh and on the verge of the points.
High optimism at Aston Martin
But what could be seen was that the seven improvements Aston introduced to the car paid off in qualifying. Alonso set the fifth fastest time and Stroll the eighth. Both cars made it into Q3, something never seen before this season by the British team.
Aston Martin’s new factory has repeatedly been cited as one of the main factors fueling dreams of success for the project. In fact, Newey recently highlighted this point: “Lawrence’s vision has created a magnificent facility, the best in F1, but it’s important that we now optimize its use,” he said in one of his speeches to the team.
“Again, this is a people sport. My previous team [Red Bull] had one of the worst wind tunnels in F1 and operated in unremarkable buildings on an industrial estate, but it got everyone working together and formed a great team,” he said.
Newey also gave his verdict on Aston Martin’s new parts at Imola
Here, despite the fact that the Briton is completely focused on the 2026 project, Aston Martin itself has been talking about having had conversations with the small group of engineers who are still working on the AMR25 to try to help and guide them with the updates they have planned for the car this season.
One of those times was with the new parts that arrived at Imola (a total of seven), where Aston Martin took the step forward they needed and so badly wanted to at least fight for points. All this to be as prepared as possible for 2026.
Despite the disappointment of still having zero points, the team insists that the wind tunnel has worked and that Imola will only be the beginning of what is to come.
“The package has worked in low, medium and high-speed corners. We hadn’t achieved that since last year. The wind tunnel has worked, the simulator has worked, the preparation has been good… all of that has raised the level. The quality of the data we have on this package of improvements is much better than before. This package was developed in the previous wind tunnel but was measured and refined in the new wind tunnel. And what we learned this weekend will help us going forward, in the development of new parts for this year and for 2026. The improvements have made us faster in all corners,“ Cowell said at the time.
”There is a small team still working on this year’s car.”
So Newey’s talks and advice are not focused on the small group of engineers working on the AMR25, but also on those responsible for driving it, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll: “I’ve also talked a lot with Lance and Fernando, gathering their opinions on the strengths and weaknesses of the current car, the correlation between the actual car and the simulator with the driver, and so on. The drivers are an essential part of the feedback process on how to modify the technical organization and the way we work.“
”Lawrence, of course, wants us to do as well as possible in 2025, so there is a small team still working on this year’s car from an aerodynamic point of view. I’ve had a few lunchtime chats with that small group, talking about the car and what we can do with it,” he revealed.
Newey will be seen dressed in green in Monaco
However, Newey’s main task is to lead the assault on the 2026 rules, which is why he has not been present at any circuits so far. “The deadlines we have in modern F1 seem to be much further ahead than they were 20 years ago, and there is a lot ahead for the 2026 car, which is where I have focused my attention, so I haven’t been to the circuit.”
But he will be in Monaco, as confirmed by the team itself. Aston Martin’s technical manager will be out and about on the streets of the Principality during the race weekend, with his notebook in hand, paying close attention to every detail. This is something that helps Aston Martin grow in every way, as Pedro de la Rosa said in Miami.
“Just being with us completely transforms the team, something that cannot be quantified in figures. It’s not just the knowledge Adrian brings, but also the emotional and inspirational aspect. Adrian is an important name joining the team, but he’s not the only one. Furthermore, we mustn’t underestimate the enormous talent we already have in the team,” said Pedro de la Rosa.