Lando Norris
McLaren
Mercedes
Red Bull
Ferrari
Williams
Racing Bulls
Aston Martin
Haas
Alpine
Aston Martin finally launched their 2026 Formula 1 car on Monday evening. They were the last team to showcase their new livery.
Given that Aston Martin only arrived at the Barcelona Shakedown on the penultimate day, the timing of the launch was fitting. Among the 10 cars that made it, the delayed AMR26 finished bottom of the lap count.
Adrian Newey is one of the most experienced and respected engineers in Formula 1, but the 67-year-old is taking on the role of team principal for the first time in his career.
History in the making: Adrian Newey’s first Aston Martin design, the AMR26, is here🔥
Is this the car that finally changes Aston Martin’s trajectory? ⬇️
Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll has taken a gamble by giving the veteran designer full control of the team as he seeks to turn them into a contender.
What Adrian Newey’s former colleagues really think of him
Newey’s suitability for the team principal role is up for debate. As noted by Planet F1, he often likes to lock himself away in his design office and ‘work in isolation’.
His former colleagues agree that he is utterly single-minded, an attitude that one described as ‘infuriating’.
How many F1 titles will Newey win at Aston Martin?
Some at Red Bull were ‘quite pleased’ to see Newey go due to dissatisfaction with his working methods. He left the team in 2024 after nearly two decades.
For the most part, those who have worked with Newey speak about him in ‘reverential’ terms and recognise that his record is beyond reproach. Newey’s cars have won 12 constructors’ titles across three different decades.
Adrian Newey’s nemesis a ‘notable absentee’ at Aston Martin F1 launch
Newey has already clashed with one senior figure at Aston Martin. Andy Cowell was the team principal at Silverstone up until last November.
Newey says Cowell gave up the position voluntarily, but reports suggest Stroll sided with the former in a power struggle.
Cowell nearly quit Aston Martin at the time before being persuaded to stay on as chief strategy officer. But now Planet F1 are reporting that he will depart at the end of the season.
The report notes that Cowell was a ‘notable absentee’ on stage at the launch, even though some of his close partners like Aramco and Honda made speeches.
Cowell did speak at the Honda engine launch last month, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him exit through the back door.
Receive exclusive F1 news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
