Lawrence Stroll green-lit Aston Martin reshuffle after ‘disgusted’ Adrian Newey urged him

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Adrian Newey seemingly orchestrated his eventual replacement as team principal for Aston Martin after issues with Honda.

Lawrence Stroll quelled speculation over Adrian Newey’s role after news emerged that the current Aston Martin team principal was going to be replaced.

However, after Jonathan Wheatley’s departure from Audi, speculation has grown even further that Adrian Newey will no longer serve in his current role with the team.

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

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Newey’s outburst at Honda didn’t do him any favours, as many within Aston Martin felt Newey showed he wasn’t fit to be Team Principal.

However, if reports are to be believed, Newey may have been the one to urge Aston Martin to replace him with a more suitable team principal.

READ MORE: Aston Martin’s £46m factor that could shape their Adrian Newey-Jonathan Wheatley decision

Adrian Newey pushed Lawrence Stroll to find a new team principal

According to Nate Saunders of AutoSport Web, Adrian Newey was the one who pushed Lawrence Stroll to hire a new team principal.

Saunders reported that Newey had grown incredibly frustrated with the situation at Aston Martin and wanted to pay more attention to the car and engineering side of the team, rather than fulfil team principal duties.

“Inside Aston Martin, the situation was already draining Newey’s patience to the limit.”

”As the face of the team, he looked completely disgusted by the brunt of the problems the team have faced for a short time and wants to focus on his real job, which is to lead the technical department and put pressure on Honda behind the scenes.”

“As a result, Newey reportedly urged owner Lawrence Stroll to hire a team boss and CEO to lead the external effort.”

READ MORE: The FIA won’t help Aston Martin after Adrian Newey’s attempt to ‘exaggerate’ Honda’s engine issues

Have Aston Martin already ‘completely ruined’ their relationship with Honda?

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Adrian Newey may have ruined Honda relationship to get replaced as Aston Martin team principal

Saunders also reported that Adrian Newey’s controversial press conference in Australia, where he called out Honda for the issues with the power unit, was set up at the last minute at his request.

“While Newey’s comments attracted attention, the press conference itself was also bizarre in other ways. Aston Martin hastily set up the press conference at Newey’s own request on the morning of the event, according to sources.”

“Although he made some very interesting technical observations at the Australian press conference, his aversion to speaking in front of large groups is well known behind the scenes. He is the type of person who shows more through his work than through his words.”

Given how Newey has not enjoyed his responsibilities as team principal for a long time, it would not be a stretch to assume Newey intentionally soured Aston Martin and Honda’s partnership.

For now, there is no confirmation that Jonathan Wheatley, or anyone else, is taking over for Newey. But it’s clear that he won’t be team principal for much longer.