Adrian Newey opposed Christian Horner joining Aston Martin after Lawrence Stroll meeting this week

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Lawrence Stroll met with Christian Horner this week to discuss Aston Martin’s search for a new team principal, but Adrian Newey favoured a move for Jonathan Wheatley.

Aston Martin are targeting a deal to lure Wheatley away from Audi only 10 months after the Briton took charge of Sauber to guide the German brand’s debut in Formula 1 in 2026. Stroll is believed to view the 58-year-old as the ideal person to lead their race team under Newey.

Newey added the duties of team principal to his existing duties as Aston Martin’s managing technical partner last November. Stroll moved Andy Cowell aside to work closely with their new engine partner Honda and fuel supplier Aramco, but Newey was only a short-term fix.

The miserable start to the 2026 F1 season that Aston Martin have produced, partly because of Honda’s hugely unreliable engine but also due to the ARM26 clearly lacking grip, has now seen the Silverstone natives step up their pursuit of a new team principal to support Newey.

Is Jonathan Wheatley the right man to get Aston Martin back on track in 2026?

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Adrian Newey is ‘opposed’ to Christian Horner joining Aston Martin but welcomes Jonathan Wheatley

According to BBC Sport, Stroll has made Wheatley an offer to run Aston Martin’s race team, with Newey maintaining his place as second in overall command. But, despite some reports that Wheatley is already set to join Aston Martin, he has not yet signed a deal to leave Audi.

READ MORE: Who is Audi team principal Jonathan Wheatley? Everything you need to know

Stroll believes hiring Wheatley to run Aston Martin’s race team would clear Newey to focus on improving the AMR26 for Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. But Stroll met with Horner this week, as well, with the 52-year-old out of work after being sacked by Red Bull last July.

Horner has frequently been linked with Aston Martin since he left Red Bull after 20 years in charge of the Milton Keynes natives. But Newey is understood to be ‘opposed’ to a reunion with Horner at Aston Martin, unlike Wheatley whom he sees as an ‘acceptable alternative’.

Horner, Newey and Wheatley were among the top figures in Red Bull’s hierarchy across the team’s first 20 years on the Formula 1 grid. Yet while Horner and Newey have repaired their relationship since leaving Red Bull, the latter is not keen to work with the former again yet.

Christian Horner ‘has not closed the door fully’ on joining Aston Martin

It remains to be seen whether Newey’s opposition was the final straw that saw Stroll seek a deal to hire Audi boss Wheatley as Aston Martin’s new team principal as, according to ESPN, Horner ‘has not closed the door fully’ on joining the Silverstone natives for his return to F1.

READ MORE: Who is Christian Horner? Everything to know from Red Bull past to net worth

Prove me wrong: Christian Horner is the best person Alpine can hire in 2026

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Investing in Alpine remains Horner’s priority, with Otro Capital open to selling its 24% stake in the Enstone outfit. But the former Red Bull boss still considers Aston Martin to be his top alternative, depending on the role that Stroll would be ready to offer, most likely as the CEO.

With Wheatley yet to officially sign a contract with Aston Martin, Horner could yet return to Stroll’s thoughts. Also, it is said that Audi could force Newey to remain Aston Martin’s team principal until 2027, as they are likely to hold Wheatley to a long period of gardening leave.