Adrian Newey reportedly steps down as Aston Martin team principal two races into new F1 season
Updated . First published
Adrian Newey has reportedly stood down as Aston Martin team principal following the team's horrific start to the Formula 1 season.
According to Autosport, Newey has quit the role to focus on technical matters and fixing the numerous issues with the team's challenger.
Newey was only appointed to the role four months ago and was only ever going to be in charge for 2026.
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Adrian Newey, team principal of Aston Martin. Getty
Autosport - one of the most reputable news organisations in the motorsport world - reported the team had poached Jonathan Wheatley from Audi to take over the team principal role.
Wheatley himself had only been with Audi for 10 months. Wheatley and Newey worked together at Red Bull for two decades and share a tight relationship.
Newey's appointment as Aston Martin team principal came as a surprise to many in the F1 paddock, due to all the other responsibilities that come with the job.
Newey is known to not enjoy the spotlight, preferring to focus on car performance and departmental optimisation.
Fernando Alonso on the grid ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix. Getty
Aston Martin has had a tough start to the season, with drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll yet to complete a full race distance after the opening two races in Australia and China.
The team's Honda engine produces such awful vibrations that the drivers cannot complete the full race distance without risking permanent nerve damage to their hands.
Last Sunday in Shanghai, onboard cameras captured Alonso - travelling at speeds in excess of 340km/h - take his hands off the wheel down the long back straight to allow them a break from the vibrations.
Questions about the team began to bubble ahead of the season opener and their inclusion on race day was reportedly in doubt.
Aston Martin has reportedly poached Audi team boss Jonathan Wheatley. Getty
It's understood two of the four battery packs provided by Honda for the race weekend began to malfunction after just the first hour of the first practice session.
Newey claimed a shortage of F1 expertise within Honda's personnel had been a major contributing element to their difficulties.
Having taken charge of the team at the season opener in Australia, Newey's absence from his post in Shanghai raised eyebrows, although the team said they knew in advance he would not attend.
Reports state former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was not being considered for the role even though his agreed absence in F1 was coming to an end.
Lance Stroll of Aston Martin jumps out of his car. Getty
Horner and Newey reportedly butted heads at Red Bull, with some suggestions the latter left the team over text message allegations levelled at Horner.
The former Red Bull principal could be available to start work by the time the European leg of the F1 season begins.
Horner might not want to join Aston Martin but reports state he may be after a bigger chunk of a team if he returns.
Since Stroll tempted Newey to join by way of a minority shareholding, it's said Horner may seek a similar deal.
Horner is known to be one of several parties bidding for the 24 per cent stake in the Alpine F1 team owned by US investment company Otro Capital, with one of the rival bidders understood to be a Mercedes effort spearheaded by Toto Wolff.
