Adrian Newey’s first hire as Aston Martin boss suggests Christian Horner could still join the team

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Adrian Newey’s appointment as Aston Martin team principal initially seemed to preclude the arrival of Christian Horner. Horner had been named as one of the candidates to replace Andy Cowell.

So when Cowell was reassigned and Newey was made team principal instead, it looked as if Horner could cross another name off his list of comeback options.

However, Aston Martin remain a viable option for Horner. Lawrence Stroll is still willing to pay ‘a king’s ransom’ to sign the former Red Bull chief, having pursued him for several years.

There’s a theory that Newey may be a short-term appointment, with Aston Martin still looking for a managerial figure who can be the team’s public spokesperson.

Adrian Newey has already hired one former Red Bull chief amid links to Christian Horner

As reported by The Race and confirmed on LinkedIn, Aston Martin have hired Paul Field as their chief operating officer this month. Field used to work as the head of production, supply chain and logistics at Red Bull.

The Race see this as an ‘intriguing change’ that indicates Newey’s desire to replicate the Red Bull model at Aston Martin. The best way to do that is perhaps to get the ‘old team’ back together.

It’s believed that Newey was behind the arrival of Field, and now the question is whether Horner will follow.

Newey and Horner have repaired their relationship after it became strained during their final years together at Red Bull.

This doesn’t guarantee that they’d be willing to work together again, but Newey gave Horner a tour of the Aston Martin factory this week, and it’s highly unlikely he would have done so if a reunion had been ruled out.

Aston Martin employee has a warning for Christian Horner

Ferrari feared power struggles if they signed Newey, and perhaps his widely publicised conflict with Cowell justifies those concerns.

Horner’s last 18 months at Red Bull were characterised by in-fighting and a battle for control, so it would clearly be a risk to pair the two personalities once again.

Indeed, one Aston Martin employee says the team are ‘out of control’ with no clear division of authority.

Perhaps Horner would bring a much-needed sense of order to the project, or maybe he would exacerbate the existing problems.