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Aston Martin are already said to be looking for a new team principal after their bleak start to the 2026 F1 season, yet Christian Danner thinks Adrian Newey deserves time.
Newey stepped into the role of team principal for the first time in his storied career in 2026, after Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll moved Andy Cowell into the role of chief strategy officer. Newey added the team boss position to his role as their managing technical partner.
Stroll hoped that giving Newey total control over the race team in Silverstone, while having Cowell work closely with new engine partner Honda, would help to set Aston Martin up for a strong start to the 2026 regulations cycle. But 2026 has been anything but positive so far.
Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll have yet to finish a Grand Prix in 2026, as Honda’s engine is causing excessive vibrations that are destroying the battery. Additionally, Alonso regularly had to take his hands off his steering wheel in China because of Honda’s engine vibrations.
Should the FIA allow Aston Martin to race in these conditions?
Fernando Alonso repeatedly took his hands off the wheel during the Chinese GP for a break from the vibrations
Christian Danner thinks Honda’s issues make it too soon for Aston Martin to replace Adrian Newey
The situation at Aston Martin is so bleak that reports have begun to emerge that claim Stroll privately accepts it was a mistake to make Newey the team principal. Also, it is even claimed that Aston Martin are looking to replace Newey as team principal as he is lacking leadership.
READ MORE: All you need to know about Aston Martin F1 team principal Adrian Newey
But Danner does not feel Aston Martin should be looking to replace Newey, at least not yet. The former Arrows F1 driver thinks Stroll cannot already label the Briton a “bad choice” for the role, as Honda’s engine has caused the majority of Aston Martin’s problems this season.
“I don’t think you can call Adrian Newey a bad choice,” Danner told sport.de. “I believe the problem at Aston Martin is primarily a Honda problem. [It is not] entirely a Honda problem.
“Aston Martin have developed their own gearbox for the first time. Aston Martin have already given Honda some tough specifications regarding dimensions and packaging.
“In other words, how do you fit the battery, the motor, and everything else under the bodywork? It takes two to tango. They still need to work together.”
Can Adrian Newey turn the Aston Martin AMR26 into a race-winning car in 2026?
Danner is right to highlight Aston Martin’s gearbox being another cause for concern, as they had to design their own gearbox for the first time to suit Honda’s engine. Aston Martin used to buy their gearboxes from Mercedes as part of their previous customer power unit supply.
It is said that Aston Martin may need six months to improve their gearbox, as their design is too fragile in its current guise. But Newey also has to shoulder some of the blame for Aston Martin’s miserable start to their new life as the factory Honda engine team so far this term.
As their problems quickly started to emerge during pre-season testing, it also emerged that Newey’s aggressive car design has limited Honda’s ability to improve Aston Martin’s engine. He made Honda build the power unit around his design after he joined the team last March.
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