Adrian Newey
Jonathan Wheatley to replace Adrian Newey as Aston Martin F1 team principal amid 2026 Honda engine crisis
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Adrian Newey is set to step down from his role as Aston Martin Formula 1 team principal after a brief tenure to focus on technical matters. He will be replaced by Jonathan Wheatley, Audi's team principal of just one year, as the team grapples with its new Honda power unit's failures under 2026 regulations. This marks the fifth leadership change since Aston Martin entered F1 in 2021.
Aston Martin Formula 1 ambassador Pedro de la Rosa stated that Adrian Newey's role as team principal will remain unchanged and that Jonathan Wheatley is not joining the team for now. Wheatley left Audi last Friday citing personal reasons, shortly after reports emerged of a potential move to Aston Martin. De la Rosa emphasized the team's commitment to its current structure amid ongoing performance challenges.
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Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe described concerns over the company's Formula 1 power unit project with Aston Martin as a misunderstanding stemming from staff rotations and a delayed rebuild. Adrian Newey revealed that Aston Martin only learned in November 2025 about significant changes in Honda's team since its Red Bull success. Watanabe emphasized that the partnership is now strong despite challenges like vibration issues.
Fernando Alonso shared positive impressions after testing Aston Martin's 2026 car, the AMR26, for the first time at the Barcelona Shakedown. The 44-year-old driver highlighted the valuable contributions of new team designer Adrian Newey. Alonso noted that Newey is 'always teaching us something.'
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Aston Martin finally put its new AMR26 through a proper test during the Barcelona shakedown, with Fernando Alonso logging 61 laps on the final day after an initial setback. The team arrived late but expressed pride in overcoming major changes, including a new Honda partnership and in-house gearbox. Adrian Newey's influence motivated the squad amid the debut of his first design for the team.