Under Lawrence Stroll’s ownership, the team has assembled some of the most sought-after engineering minds in the sport. Furthermore, Stroll has invested millions to create a spectacular facility at Silverstone and from 2026 will have its own engine, chassis and wind tunnel team in one location.

Such investment in equipment, technology and design talent was always going to shape the focus on the areas where the team were not delivering on track. And that now points at its drivers; Stroll’s son, Lance, and veteran Fernando Alonso.

Could Newey’s promotion be a way to change that and now deliver an upgrade in the drivers’ department - paving the way for Max Verstappen’s switch to Aston Martin?

Verstappen’s success is inextricably linked to Newey, who played a crucial role in designing the Red Bull cars that delivered him his four world titles.

That is not lost on the Dutchman, who has repeatedly credited Newey for giving him the machinery capable of dominating modern Formula 1. The same, too, goes for Verstappen’s management team, who appreciate Newey’s contribution.

That bond matters and it is exactly why Newey’s shift to Aston Martin team principal changes the long-term landscape.

Aston Martin has aspirations to be world champions. Stroll has pushed an ambitious long-term vision, a new factory, expanded technical departments, and significant investment in personnel, the missing puzzle pieces were that of senior leadership and driving talent.

The prospect of Verstappen leaving Red Bull is not new. And while Verstappen is locked into a contract, history shows that loyalty in Formula 1 is tied just as closely to competitiveness as it is to paperwork. If Red Bull’s dominance remains threatened, and should they undergo a slow start to 2026 with new engine partners, Ford, then it is entirely plausible that Verstappen could seek an early exit.

Verstappen, above all, wants the fastest car. And no designer in the history of the sport has a better record of delivering exactly that than Newey.

Aston Martin’s structural shift, removing the CEO role and positioning Newey as a central figure in team leadership, also hints at a long-term play.

It gives Newey not only technical authority but substantial influence over the team’s sporting direction. In the same way that Mercedes had previously built a driver-friendly environment around Lewis Hamilton, Aston Martin could be creating a structure that appeals to elite drivers seeking technical stability and a clear vision.

Successful drivers have all positioned themselves strategically with teams that offered the best future prospects. A Verstappen-Newey reunion at Aston Martin would fit that pattern.

If the project takes shape as Stroll and Newey envision, Verstappen’s path to a future move becomes much less far-fetched. Newey’s promotion doesn’t just shift Aston Martin’s internal hierarchy, it could ultimately shift the balance of power in F1’s constructors championship.

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