Adrian Newey has been the driving force behind Aston Martin‘s turnaround this season. Since his arrival at the beginning of March, the team’s idea has been to focus 100% on the AMR26. However, upon his arrival, the engineer wanted to learn some details about this season’s car, and he immediately identified certain aspects that could boost the car’s performance by a few tenths of a second.
Newey changes Aston Martin’s roadmap
Initially, Aston Martin had planned to move on from the AMR25 after Barcelona. They knew they had built a poor car for this year, and the changes to the team, the new staff, and the new factory had delayed them a lot, not only in terms of making a competitive car for this year, but also for 2026 with the new regulations. So it was decided that they would keep a small team to introduce a series of improvements planned for the Spanish Grand Prix in Catalonia, and then abandon the AMR25 and focus all their resources on 2026.
However, Adrian Newey changed the roadmap. The world’s most successful engineer wanted to know how the AMR25 was put together, and after studying it, he identified certain aspects that could improve the car. It was so simple for him that he committed to collaborating on certain improvements without compromising development for 2026. He was clear that changes had to be made and confirmed this at the Monaco Grand Prix, the only Grand Prix he has been with the team, after walking around the paddock, garage by garage, and seeing all his rivals’ cars. At that time, he already ventured to confirm that there would be improvements from Aston Martin at Silverstone, just one week after the first package of improvements had been installed on the AMR25.
Adrian Newey changes the AMR25
The first improvements, already under the guidance of Adrian Newey, arrived at Monza, and the car took a significant step forward. They were minor improvements, with little time since their arrival, but they improved enough that, since then, Fernando Alonso has fought to get into Q3 and has finished in the points in the last few races.
In his spare time, taking advantage of breaks at the factory, he has sat down every day while eating or having a coffee with the team responsible for this year’s car. They have exchanged information and data, and the engineer has contributed his views and impressions, giving the engineers the freedom to make their own decisions.
The new updates
Now the new updates are coming, the last big package of the season, although there may still be some minor improvements. This package is the first to be 100% produced with the Silverstone factory operating at full capacity, with the new wind tunnel and under the supervision of Adrian Newey. Although the team is conservative in its public statements, behind closed doors they are very optimistic. There is a lot of confidence that they can take a significant step forward and get into the fight for the midfield and, who knows, maybe even challenge the big guns in a particular Grand Prix.
Adrian Newey has changed the dynamic and changed Aston Martin’s roadmap. There is optimism and confidence in the air. The changes this year have a goal: it is not to win or improve for the sake of good results, but to confirm that the path the team has taken is the right one for 2026, when the team is expected to make a significant leap forward and be able to fight with the best.