David Coulthard says Aston Martin appointing Adrian Newey turned out to be a ‘PR own goal’

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David Coulthard says Aston Martin have proved their critics right by deciding to replace Adrian Newey as team principal. Former Audi boss Jonathan Wheatley is expected to take over when his gardening leave has concluded.

Lawrence Stroll ‘set the record straight’ in a statement last week, reaffirming his commitment to Newey. Far from leaving the team, the legendary designer will return to his previous position of managing technical partner.

Newey took charge at the start of the year after an internal power struggle with Andy Cowell. However, with new engine partners Honda in crisis, Aston Martin have started the year as F1’s slowest team and have yet to finish a Grand Prix with either car.

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

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David Coulthard says Aston Martin appointing Adrian Newey was ‘never’ going to work

Coulthard reacted to recent developments on the latest episode of the Up to Speed podcast. The Scotsman worked with Newey at Williams, McLaren and Red Bull and took all 13 of his F1 victories in cars designed by Newey.

Like many others, Coulthard was sceptical about Newey’s suitability for the role from the outset. While he is widely regarded as one of the greatest F1 engineers ever, he lacks the ‘political’ experience for such a position.

Coulthard called it a ‘PR own goal’ for the team, while Guenther Steiner agreed that Aston Martin were trying to save their ‘image’ by embarking on another management reshuffle.

“Having spent most of my career working with Adrian, I would never have seen him as a team principal. He is technically driven, he is a racer, he is a problem solver from a technical point of view.

“The politics of Formula 1, which is what a team principal has to deal with a lot, and the politics that are sometimes created with the media as well, is not at all [suitable for him].

• READ MORE: Zak Brown warned Aston Martin about appointing Adrian Newey when he first became team principal

“Especially at Adrian’s stage of life. You’ll find as you go through the decades, there are certain things that you are prepared to do that you’re not prepared to do when you get older.

“I never saw that as a long-term play. I think it’s just a re-addressing of what was a short-term [move], and what’s actually turned out to be a bit of a PR own goal.

“It created a scenario of questioning from the majority of people who were thinking, ‘Does that really work?'”

David Coulthard’s Fernando Alonso prediction has not aged well

Coulthard advised Newey to retire when he announced his departure from Red Bull in the spring of 2024. He was already 65 years old at that point.

In what was likely a tongue-in-cheek statement, Coulthard predicted that Fernando Alonso would become world champion again with the help of Newey.

That reflected the excitement around Aston Martin’s coup. The team entered F1’s new era targeting race wins and, ultimately, championships.

Perhaps those goals are still achievable long-term, but Alonso is clearly facing a very real risk without scoring another podium, let alone winning a third title.