Aston Martin just beat almost every Formula 1 team to signing of one ‘huge’ name

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Aston Martin are a manufacturer who are working tirelessly behind the scenes to build the best team possible to challenge for a Formula 1 world championship one day.

In Fernando Alonso, they have a driver who knows exactly how to win an F1 title, albeit it’s been nearly 20 years since he last earned that accolade.

Question marks will remain over the suitability of Lance Stroll to a championship-winning outfit especially as out of the eight podiums Aston Martin secured in 2023, he earned none of them.

However, Aston Martin now have one of the strongest collections of people in the paddock working in their backroom staff.

Lawrence Stroll has made some recent additions that have raised eyebrows elsewhere and speaking on the Nailing The Apex Podcast, journalist Tim Hauraney believes one new signing was wanted by nearly every other team in Formula 1.

Enrico Cardile joining from Ferrari is a boost to the team, so much so that Helmut Marko admitted that he thought Cardile was an important person to lose especially ahead of the new regulations being introduced to F1 in 2026.

Aston Martin are building an incredible factory in Silverstone too and another new addition – Andy Cowell – will be responsible for much of the work taking place there.

The 55-year-old was integral to the success enjoyed at Mercedes, overseeing the power unit that delivered seven years of unprecedented dominance over the sport.

Cowell now comes in at Aston Martin as Group CEO and will be working closely with Stroll and his ever-growing list of top talent in the factory.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Aston Martin F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Almost every Formula 1 team wanted to sign Andy Cowell before Aston Martin move

Speaking about Aston Martin’s new hire, Hauraney said: “Andy Cowell, being a very sought after person in the paddock, almost every team on the grid was trying to get Andy Cowell onto their team, even Mercedes were trying to get him back.

“When you bring in someone like Andy Cowell who’s focused on winning and focused on performance, that’s kind of the transition they’re in now.

“They’ve brought in huge names and they want to make this a winning team, and they’ve been very smart and strategic in plugging in the right people in the right places.

“And so by bringing in Enrico Cardile to sort of oversee, because I’ve had people message me about this a lot being like, well Dan Fallows is probably going to leave and so’s Eric Blandin and others have been like, well won’t that step of the toes of Dan Fallows.

“It’s actually the opposite of that and Cardile is being brought in to oversee the project as a whole on the technical side.

“Oversee what Dan and Eric are doing and where else do they need help, do they assistance, where else can we plug somebody in?

“I think that’s what they’re trying to do here, is trying to lighten the load of everybody so they’re not spread themselves too thin and allow these geniuses to just do their thing.”

Could Adrian Newey follow Andy Cowell through the door at Aston Martin?

Although almost every team wanted to bring Andy Cowell into their set-ups, there’s arguably one man who is even more sought after in the paddock right now.

Adrian Newey announced his exit from Red Bull earlier in the season but won’t officially depart until next year.

Aston Martin have been pushing hard to hire Newey to lead their design team.

Lawrence Stroll had dinner with Newey last week and has now set him a deadline within which he has to respond to a first contract offer.

It would be the biggest signal of intent yet if Aston Martin were able to convince one of Formula 1’s most successful members of staff to join the project next year.

It may finally give Alonso and Stroll Jr. The chance to challenge at the very front of the grid in their racing green machines.