Aston Martin left the backdoor open for Christian Horner after Adrian Newey gave him a secret tour

Follow us on Google Discover

Aston Martin have named their fourth different team principal over the last four years, having made design icon Adrian Newey their latest boss ahead of the 2026 F1 season.

The 66-year-old will combine his existing role as the Silverstone crew’s managing technical partner with the role of team principal from next year. Aston Martin have chosen to conduct a shock reshuffle that sees Andy Cowell moved aside and become their chief strategy officer.

Cowell only took over as Aston Martin’s CEO in October 2024, and also made team principal in January 2025 as Mike Krack was demoted to chief trackside officer. Now, Cowell will work closely with Honda, as it leaves Red Bull, with Aston Martin becoming a works team in 2026.

The reshuffle in Silverstone also sees Newey become a team principal for the first time in his decorated career. Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll is going all-in on letting Newey shape the team how he sees fit before F1’s 2026 regulations, for which he initially joined in March.

Christian Horner could still become Aston Martin’s CEO despite Adrian Newey becoming their team principal

Stroll made Newey a 5% shareholder in Aston Martin in September 2024 to name the Briton as their managing technical partner after he left Red Bull in May last year. He officially joined this March and has now been given full control over the race team from the 2026 F1 season.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Aston Martin F1 team principal Adrian Newey

Newey becoming Aston Martin’s fourth F1 team principal in just four years, following Otmar Szafneur, Krack and Cowell, comes after they were heavily linked with Christian Horner after Red Bull sacked him this July. But Newey and Horner could yet still reunite at Aston Martin.

According to GPBlog, Newey has not replaced Cowell as Aston Martin’s CEO, as the role has currently been left vacant. Aston Martin also intend to rotate all media duties on Grand Prix weekends between senior figures, with Newey one chief who will deal with any questions.

Additionally, BBC Sport reports that Newey gave Horner a secret tour around Aston Martin’s factory ‘under cover of darkness’ this Tuesday – only a day before the former was named as Cowell’s successor. Yet BBC Sport does not expect Aston Martin will offer Horner a role now.

Aston Martin cannot let Adrian Newey get ‘distracted’ as their new F1 team principal

But Aston Martin now leaving their CEO role vacant after moving Cowell aside while naming Newey as their new team principal from 2026 has left the backdoor open to giving Horner a role in Silverstone still. Horner becoming Aston Martin’s CEO would also eliminate a big risk.

READ MORE: Who is Christian Horner? All you need to know from Red Bull to net worth

Alex Brundle has now stated that Newey becoming Aston Martin’s team principal from 2026 is “100%” the correct decision from a competitive point of view. But Aston Martin must now make sure his new role does not distract Newey, in a way that hiring Horner would likely fix.

“From a competition perspective, 100% correct decision.” Brundle shared on X. “Put the guy who knows how to make the car go fast in charge. The mission-critical part.

“The smart bit will be defending Adrian from the ‘media/business’ element of this role so he’s not distracted from the core purpose.”

Horner had absolutely no issue dealing with the media side of his role as Red Bull’s CEO and team principal prior to being sacked in July. Also, Newey would not have a problem working with Horner at Aston Martin after repairing their relationship once the former left Red Bull.