Lawrence Stroll is ‘obsessed’ with one thing that Adrian Newey ‘detests’

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Adrian Newey has cited the opportunity to work with Lawrence Stroll as a key factor in his decision to join Aston Martin. The Silverstone outfit beat off competition from much of the F1 grid to sign the legendary designer.

Newey says Stroll is ‘unique’ in that he’s actively involved in the running of his team. Many team owners are more distant in the current era of F1, according to the 65-year-old.

The Aston model is apparently similar to the Williams and McLaren operations in the 1990s. Newey won 12 of his 25 championships with those two teams before joining Red Bull in 2006.

Previous reports had questioned whether he was a good fit. One claimed Newey would be bothered by Stroll’s reputation as an ill-tempered, impatient figurehead.

But as they shared the stage at the unveiling ceremony on Tuesday, the two seemed to have struck up an early rapport. That will be tested, of course, if Newey and the rest of the technical department don’t meet expectations.

Now that Stroll has assembled his world-class engineering team – Enrico Cardile and Dan Fallows, formerly of Ferrari and Red Bull, also feature – he’ll feel that there are no excuses. Aston simply must become a contending team after the regulations change in 2026.

Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll shares McLaren’s ‘obsession with appearances’

According to Motorsport.com’s Alex Kalinauckas, there’s a clear similarity between Aston Martin and Newey’s McLaren. There’s a mutual ‘obsession with appearances’.

Much of Stroll’s wealth stems from the fashion industry, so it’s inevitable that he values aesthetics. Likewise, McLaren were keen to parade their ‘shiny’ Technology Centre in Woking during Newey’s spell.

That was something he ‘came to detest’, however, before his acrimonious exit. It seems he wanted to focus solely on his work.

Martin Whitmarsh called security on Newey prior to his departure, so it may be crucial that Stroll has replaced him as CEO. Andy Cowell, the former Mercedes engine chief, will take over that role.

“He’s joining a team that is obsessed with appearances, simply because its owner made his fortune doing exactly that,” Kalinauckas wrote. “This is a potential pitfall given Newey came to detest the restrictions such an approach had at McLaren’s shiny Technology Centre 20 years ago.”

How Adrian Newey’s Aston Martin salary compares to top football managers

It’s unclear whether Newey’s contract will require any involvement in the team’s commercial activities. He may have expressed reluctance in the face of any such demands.

One detail that has emerged is the 65-year-old’s salary. Newey will earn up to £30m per year at Aston Martin, making him one of the highest-paid non-athletes in sport.

Indeed, he’s secured a bigger deal than Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti. Stroll is investing £783m into Aston and much of it may be spent on this long-term commitment.