“You go to the factory at 2 in the morning and you see it,” Newey prepares his last great work of art in F1
Adrian Newey is already in the final stretch of his professional career in Formula 1. But he did not come to Aston Martin with the idea of retiring, but to create one last great work that will be remembered in the history books.
If we removed Adrian Newey from the equation, Aston Martin would probably disappear from the predictions for 2026. However, the most decorated engineer in the history of Formula 1 has the power to generate enough excitement and expectations to boost any team on the grid.
Everyone who has seen him work at the Aston Martin Technology Campus draws the same conclusion: Adrian Newey did not come to Silverstone to spend a few last years of comfortable work without great pressures, as one might think would happen at Red Bull.
On the contrary, at 66 years old, Newey has a very clear goal: to create one last great work of art that will be remembered in the history books for its success and innovation. Pedro de la Rosa, ambassador of Aston Martin and former teammate of Newey at McLaren, has spoken about it.
“The Adrian Newey effect is not a marketing effect, far from it”
Obsession with the 2026 car
Adrian Newey has arrived at Aston Martin at the best time, with the new technical regulations already on the horizon. Since joining the team in March, his only motivation has been to design and develop the AMR26, the single-seater with which Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll will compete next year.
Moreover, it is an ideal regulatory change for Newey, a designer capable of conceiving a single-seater as a whole. Not only does the aerodynamics change, but also the dimensions and weights, the tires, the power unit, and even the fuel.
For all these reasons, Adrian Newey is giving it absolutely everything. And Pedro de la Rosa has confirmed it once again, this time during his appearance on the DURALAVITA podcast.
“The important thing is that Adrian Newey did not come to Aston Martin because he wants to retire,” introduces the former Spanish driver. “Adrian Newey is working… let’s see, not 24 hours a day, because he sleeps. But he sleeps very little, I can guarantee you that. It’s amazing. It’s incredible”.
“Any day I go to the factory, anytime I go at any hour, you look and he’s in the office. At any hour, I can tell you it’s two in the morning,” insists De la Rosa, visibly impressed by the commitment shown by Adrian Newey.
But the team’s shareholder is not only offering his greatest effort to Aston Martin, he is also serving as inspiration. “The Adrian Newey effect is not a marketing effect, far from it. It’s a work effect, an inspiration effect, and it is stretching and inspiring the new generations. Everyone is very excited to work with Adrian Newey and that is interesting”, points out Pedro de la Rosa.
Aston Martin has potential
The now ambassador of Aston Martin has also highlighted the potential that the team has after the huge investment made by Lawrence Stroll. The Canadian businessman has created a Technology Campus unparalleled in Formula 1 and has equipped it with the best tools at the service of great names like Cowell, Cardile, or Newey himself.
And that, in De la Rosa’s opinion, has happened because they all see “potential. The investment, which takes many years to materialize, the wind tunnel, in CFD… The potential is there. But we are going to prove it next year. The movement is underway”, he concludes.
This year, the wind tunnel and the new working methods implemented by Andy Cowell have already yielded results, allowing Aston Martin to progress with an AMR25 that started the season as one of the worst single-seaters on the grid.
Now it remains to be seen what Aston Martin is capable of in 2026. Will the new AMR26 be one of the most remembered cars of Adrian Newey?
Fotos: Aston Martin F1
