Newey's crystal ball offers candid 2026 prediction

10:04, 13 Nov

Updated: 11:04, 13 Nov

byBen Winship

Adrian Newey is focussed on Aston Martin’s team unity as he candidly conceded he has ‘no idea’ what 2026 will bring.

Newey joined Aston Martin as managing technical partner in March earlier this year and is one of many high profile figures to have joined the Silverstone-based team in 2025, alongside new team principal Andy Cowell and chief techical officer Enrico Cardile.

As part of a video created by the team’s sponsors Maaden, Newey outlined his hopes and expectations for the 2026 regulation change at a dramatically changed Aston Martin team.

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“The honest answer idea is I have absolutely no idea [what to expect].

"We are in a period of transformation. We have, as a team, grown rapidly. Its really now in a settling down phase having grown hugely in number, we now need to settle everybody down, get them working well together.

“I've never been a believer in saying ‘we will now achieve this' and 'now achieve that'. I think the satisfaction comes from working together to move forwards.

"If we can achieve that in 2026 that will be the first tick.”

Newey on greatness

Over an almost forty-year Formula One career, Newey is regarded by made as the sport's greatest designer, with 13 constructors titles and 12 drivers titles to his name across stints at Williams, McLaren and Red Bull.

Adrian Newey's debut for Aston Martin at Monaco

Adrian Newey is reported to be earning around £30m per year at Aston MArtin - Photo: Race Pictures

When asked what greatness means to him Newey said: “It means performing at your best - setting your PBs if you like.

“I think really getting satisfaction from your work is probably the best single thing.

“If you feel you’re doing the best job you can personally, then drive satisfaction from that - that will be greatness.”

He has earned the nickname ‘the man who can see air’ for his old-school approach towards design. He prefers sketching his ideas onto a drawing board and finds it a more intuitive process to modern CAD (computer-aided design) technology.

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