Newey's team boss appointment surprises Marko: 'Not his forte'

Helmut Marko was surprised to see Adrian Newey get appointed as Aston Martin's team principal.

On Wednesday, Aston Martin revealed that Newey will become its team principal entering the 2026 Formula 1 season. However, he will not become the CEO. Andy Cowell, who held these roles in 2025, will become the team’s Chief Strategy Officer moving forward.

Red Bull's top advisor, Helmut Marko, admitted he was surprised to see Newey taking on this new role heading into next year.

He told Austrian outlet Kleine Zeitung: "We'll have to see how that plays out in practice."

Adrian Newey at the Monaco Grand Prix - Photo: Race Pictures

Marko also added that day-to-day operations and on-track duties are not Newey's strengths.

He explained: "That's certainly not his forte. His great strength lies in design, car setup, and the quality of production and development. But it has surprised me greatly that he's moving more towards team management."

Newey's appointment surprises the F1 world

What does this switch mean for Aston Martin, for Newey himself, and others in the Formula 1 paddock? Read our column on how the master designer's rise among the ranks can help the team attract Max Verstappen here. Together with that, find out our editors' thoughts on the decision as well!

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