According to Flavio Briatore, Aston Martin got everything wrong in 2024. Yet, there has been no shortage of investment, nor of hiring of important figures, including technical director Dan Fallow. Now, another big name arrives at Lawrence Stroll’s court. Andy Cowellformer “architect” of the Mercedes power unit of turbo hybrid triumphs, will be the new CEO of the group starting next October 1st.
He will report directly to Stroll and takes over the position previously held by Martin Whitmarsh.
Enough excuses now: Aston must win
“I would like to thank Martin, who has been instrumental in our growth as a company. Over the last three years he has developed the team and helped us achieve some significant milestones, including furthering our relationship with Honda and building our state-of-the-art AMR Technology Campus at Silverstone.”explains Stroll.
Aston Martin must begin a turnaround, in what has been a disappointing season so far and as the fifth team on the grid, detached from the best four. A repositioning difficult to digest after the exploit of the first third of the championship in 2023, surprising compared to the crisis suffered in 2021 and 2022.
“I am delighted to welcome Andy to our team at a crucial time.. Together with our partnership with Honda, the commitment of our partner Aramco and the leadership of Andy, we are well on our way to becoming a championship-winning team. Andy has my full support and will have every resource at his disposal to win.“. Full support and full resources. It will be necessary to obtain prestigious results from 2026.
After leaving the Mercedes world, Cowell returns to Formula 1, at a very different level to the management of the HPP division in Brixworth, where Mercedes oversaw the development of the power units.
Aston has the foundation to do great things
Now the position is at the top of the Formula 1 structure: “I am thrilled to be joining Lawrence’s exciting project and look forward to working with the talented group of people that has been assembled. F1 has always been my racing passion and I join Aston Martin Aramco at an exciting time, with the imminent completion of the AMR Technology Campus and the transition to a works team in 2026. with our strategic partners Honda and Aramco.”
Whitmarsh will lead the transition into the role and will leave Aston Martin by the end of the year: “I have known Andy for many years and took him to Mercedes HPP in 2004where he served as general manager between 2013 and 2020, achieving enormous successes in the corporate and sporting fields.
He will be an incredible asset to Aston Martin Aramco and will contribute significantly to the execution of our future strategy. Andy’s arrival in October and the completion of the AMR Technology Campus will allow me to step away and focus on other projects in my life, knowing that the foundation has been laid with an impressive teaman inspiring vision and state-of-the-art facilities to achieve success in F1.”
