With the regulatory revolution that introduces Formula 1 to a new technical cycle in 2026, there is much anticipation to find out if there will be changes in the GP hierarchies: the era of ground effect single-seaters was characterized by Red Bull’s domination and McLaren’s extraordinary finish, while Ferrari and Mercedes had a more marginal role.
The question that insiders are asking is whether Adrian Newey, having left Red Bull, will be able to start another winning period after those experienced in Williams, McLaren and indeed in Milton Keynes? The answer is not at all obvious, at least in this first year of great change.
Team owner Lawrence Stroll took over Racing Point in 2019 – it was a second-tier team based in Silverstone that gradually morphed into Aston Martin Racing. The official green colors of the Gaydon company appeared in 2021, after the excellent fourth place with the RP20-Mercedes and Sergio Perez’s victory in Japan and third places for Lance Stroll.
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Photo: Erik Junius
Then the team sailed between fifth and seventh place in the Constructors’ World Championship with less satisfaction than expected. Lawrence, in the meantime, has transformed the small Racing Point headquarters into a new ultra-modern factory: the Technology Campus makes use of three interconnected buildings which have transformed the area overlooking the Silverstone track since 2023. The owner has not spared resources by preparing the most modern wind tunnel, a new simulator and activating a structure that aims to be competitive with the top teams.
It is logical to think that with a cutting-edge headquarters and innovative solutions the team should immediately take off towards top positions. Setting up the systems takes longer than you might think, especially since the partnerships have also changed in the meantime. Aston Martin has until now been a Mercedes customer team and bought the power unit, gearbox and rear suspension from the Mercedes.
Honda will be Aston Martin’s exclusive supplier from 2026
Photo at: Motorsport.com Japan
From 2026 the “greenies” will be pushed by PU Honda thanks to an exclusivity contract that links Stroll to the Japanese manufacturer. A bond that strengthens the role of the English team in the objective of aiming high, but the Japanese, always sparing in giving information on their work (their unconditional trust must be earned over time…) were a little reticent in ensuring open cooperation, so much so that Andy Cowell, CEO and team principal until a few weeks ago, paid for this flaw and, as an expert engine engineer, was relegated to the role of liaison with Honda.
There is great expectation on the fuel that will be developed by Aramco, a Saudi Arabian oil company which is also part of Stroll Sr.’s company: this supplier has made a large investment in the study of e-fuel, synthetic petrol without fossil content. The expectation is that the Arabs will be able to give Honda a fuel with a high calorific capacity, giving away some horsepower.
Lawrence was able to nab Adrian Newey: the Canadian gave the English “genius” a minority shareholding to turn him into a partner and from that moment the British engineer took command of the team. For the moment he is also the team principal, in a role that is certainly not his, but which allows him to “build” the staff he needs.
Enrico Cardile, Aston Martin Racing
Photo at: Aston Martin Racing
The first choice was made on Enrico Cardile, former Ferrari technical director taken from Maranello: the Tuscan is the Chief Technical Officer who took over from Dan Fallows and Bob Bell and is Adrian’s interface in the creation of the single-seater, as well as being the boss to whom Jack Vino’s aerodynamicists (who recently arrived from Mercedes, after the exit of Eric Blandin and Ian Greig) and the simulation area which is managed by Giles Wood, a specialist who arrived eight months ago, respond from Apple.
It is interesting to note that there is another Italian at the heart of the Aston Martin structure: Luca Furbatto, operational since 2021, is the Engineering Director and follows the implementation phase and the evolution of the system. For the delicate area of production, Newey recently called as COO, Paul Field, a faithful man who was Head of Production, Supply Chain and Logistics at Red Bull. He takes over Ben Fitzgerald, an outgoing manager with little F1 experience, having trained in the automotive industry.
Jak Crawford, will be the therza Aston Martin nel 2026
Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
It’s clear that Newey is completing the puzzle as the AMR26 is being born. A complex operation because it touched all the cornerstones of building a winning team. And we must consider that compared to the championship just concluded, Aston Martin is called upon to create its own transmission, rear suspension and also the hydraulic system which were a legacy of the Mercedes supply.
Fitting in every element is a delicate step: at the start of the agile single-seaters we expect the creation of Adrian who will certainly introduce solutions to be copied, but we cannot expect that Aston Martin will be able to express its full potential straight away, especially since other positions remain open in the staff: it is no secret that Gianpiero Lambiase, another technician appreciated by Newey, could join the team that manages the track is now in the hands of Mike Krack.
Lawrence Stroll, titolare Aston Martin
Photo: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images
Dad Stroll is completing a metamorphosis of the team that in some ways recalls the restructuring of Ferrari that led to the Schumacher era in the early 2000s. With Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne at the head of the technical staff, the successes did not come immediately. And the Scuderia already had Kaiser as its top driver. The Silverstone team, however, will have to find a top driver for 2027 if it has the ambition to impose itself: Fernando Alonso has not won a GP since 2013 with Ferrari and Lance Stroll has never won an F1 race.
It is no coincidence that we hear more and more often about an interest in Charles Leclerc if Max Verstappen’s dream cannot materialise…
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