Aston Martin is reportedly preparing to remove Adrian Newey from the team principal role, with an announcement expected soon. The change would mark another major leadership reshuffle at Silverstone as the team struggles to adapt to Formula 1’s new 2026 regulations.
Newey, widely regarded as F1’s most successful designer, joined Aston Martin in September 2024 in a move that stunned the paddock. Initially hired as managing technical partner, he was unexpectedly promoted to team principal in November 2025 during a broader leadership overhaul. That reshuffle saw Andy Cowell move to chief strategy officer, with Newey taking over day-to-day team management duties.
The decision surprised many at the time. Newey was already overseeing Aston Martin’s technical direction and car design for the major 2026 rule change. Adding the media and operational responsibilities of a team principal to his workload raised immediate questions about whether the arrangement was sustainable.
Those concerns appear to have materialized. Aston Martin arrived late to pre-season testing and completed the lowest number of laps of any team. Problems with the new chassis and the integration of Honda’s power unit have persisted into the season. It wasn’t until the fourth race in Miami that both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll managed to finish a full Grand Prix distance.
The poor start has intensified calls for Newey to step back from the team principal role and focus solely on technical work. Critics argue that the team needs a dedicated principal to handle operations, communications, and the political demands of the job, while Newey concentrates on fixing the car.
Jonathan Wheatley has emerged as the likely replacement. The former Red Bull sporting director left Audi earlier this year for personal reasons, but speculation about his move to Aston Martin has grown since the Miami Grand Prix. Podcast host Jolie Sharpe, speaking on the _Up to Speed_ podcast, said chatter in the paddock suggests Wheatley’s appointment as team principal is imminent.
“There’s much more chatter now about Wheatley,” Sharpe said. “I think that should be announced… to be the new team principal at Aston Martin. I think that’s coming.” When pressed on timing, she added that the announcement could come “a lot sooner” and that the team is targeting a change around race 14.
The timing would align with Aston Martin’s expectations for performance gains. Sharpe noted that internally, the team believes it could start reaching Q2 by mid-season. “They knew what was happening before the season started, and I think any improvement is a big bonus. And they’ve accepted it and it’s not great,” she said.
Wheatley worked closely with Newey at Red Bull for nearly two decades and is seen as a seasoned operator capable of managing a team under pressure. His experience in sporting regulations and race operations would allow Newey to return to a pure technical role.
Neither Aston Martin nor Wheatley has commented publicly on the reports. Newey continues to juggle both responsibilities for now, but the expectation in the paddock is that a formal announcement separating the roles is close.
If confirmed, the move would be the latest twist in Aston Martin’s efforts to become a title contender ahead of the 2026 regulation overhaul.