The Monaco F1 Grand Prix is underway, and Aston Martin, in addition to some improvements that, realistically, are unlikely to have much effect in Monaco, has a new addition that it hopes will make a difference. Adrian Newey, who joined Aston Martin at the beginning of March, will be present at the legendary Monte Carlo race, accompanied by his trusty notebook, an item that has been with him throughout his career.
Aston Martin’s new signing Adrian Newey
It seems that Adrian Newey’s role in 2025 is more important than we were led to believe at first. Since his arrival, all the information from the Aston Martin factory indicated that the most successful engineer in F1 history would be focused solely on 2026. And in a way, they were right, but it was only half the truth, and we all know that half-truths hide some lies.
The truth is that Adrian Newey has begun designing the AMR26, but what we hadn’t been told is that the AMR25 would serve as a test bed for next season’s car. This means that next year’s car designs, which, according to the regulations, can be introduced into the current car, will serve as updates for the AMR25. This is what happened at Imola, and it is what will happen in the next few races.
With these first updates, Adrian Newey has already achieved what Aston Martin has not managed to do in three years: make improvements work. This has changed the attitude of a team that was mired in pessimism to one with high ambitions for the current season. Barcelona should be a turning point with the new parts made entirely in the current wind tunnel.
Newey signs up for the Monaco Grand Prix
After two and a half months of hard work at the Aston Martin factory, Adrian Newey will accompany the team at the Monaco Grand Prix to supervise the AMR25’s progress firsthand. Let’s not forget that the legendary engineer knows the work in the paddock firsthand and inside out.
But Adrian Newey will not be alone, he will be accompanied by his inseparable notebook. But what exactly is this notebook for and what does he write in it?
“To be honest, the notebook doesn’t have much content. It’s just for keeping lots of pieces of A4 paper. Usually, they’re sketches, ideas or notes,” said Newey.
“It’s just a way of quickly jotting down what’s on my mind. It’s a way of developing ideas and then communicating them, although most of them are probably unintelligible to others. Sometimes, if I can’t read what I’ve written, I can’t understand it either!”
This notebook perfectly defines an engineer who doesn’t need technology to be the best. Far removed from electronic devices, the notebook is similar to his traditional blackboard, where he designs cars with pen and paper. This “lack of evolution” has led him to be considered the best engineer in the world, the most successful, and he has no intention of changing the way he works.
Adrian Newey joining Aston Martin and Fernando Alonso is a new step in the team’s ambitions in the F1 World Championship, especially for next year, but it sends a clear message to the rest of the teams. Aston Martin is on the right track, has signed the best, and wants to be world champion.