Newey has “found something” regarding the 2026 rules
The British engineer joined Aston Martin two months ago. While he said he was working discreetly on the car of 2025, he has already found areas of development for those of 2026.
Finally some good news for Aston Martin? While the British team is experiencing difficult times (only 14 points after six races), the future could be different. Indeed, in 2026, new regulations will be introduced and a reshuffle in the hierarchy will take place. Aston Martin has already anticipated this situation as the team based in Silverstone has made numerous hires recently, the most notable being Adrian Newey. The former Red Bull engineer has already given his first interview in his new team. He particularly commented on the new rules that will come into effect in 2026, which he considers “less rigid” than initially expected.
If the teams continue to bring developments this season, they are mainly focused on the design of the 2026 car. Among them, Aston Martin hopes that this new era in F1 will mark its return to the top after disappointing results in recent months (no podium since the 2023 Brazilian Grand Prix) despite starting the 2023 season strongly (five podiums in the first six races). This year, the situation is even more challenging, with their driver Fernando Alonso yet to score any points.
Possible solutions already identified by Adrian Newey
Nevertheless, the arrival of Adrian Newey could change everything. The Briton has reportedly found something regarding the 2026 rules. At least, that’s what former driver and now consultant Damon Hill reported. The 1996 world champion released a video in which Adrian Newey discusses the future regulations. According to him, they will give engineers more opportunities than expected to come up with innovative ideas. My view on the 2026 regulations is similar to what I had during the major regulatory change in 2022: initially, I thought the rules were so rigid that there wasn’t much left for a designer to do, he explained.
« But by digging a little deeper, we realize there is more flexibility than it seems at first glance, with possibilities for innovation and different approaches. The diversity among the cars is a good thing. It’s boring if they all look the same and only the livery differentiates them. I think there’s a strong chance we’ll observe the same thing in 2026 as in 2022. »
Results not yet commensurate with the investments made
Despite everything, to be ready in 2026, Lawrence Stroll’s team must absolutely regain performance. For this, Adrian Newey has already identified areas to strengthen, notably the aerodynamic sector. The aerodynamic department is one of the areas in our team that needs development. But in the short term, this means we need to decide on the most fruitful directions and focus our resources on them.
« Of course, by doing this, there is always a risk of missing a lead. Often, you have to go far down a certain path before knowing if it will be fruitful or not. I never like telling a fellow engineer not to pursue something, but given the very short deadlines, in this case, I have to do it. » The British engineer is therefore fully invested in his work, even if he mentioned discussing with other engineers as well as Lawrence Stroll regarding this year’s car. Nevertheless, the Canadian billionaire is focusing all his financial and architectural efforts to best prepare for the upcoming deadlines.
After difficult times, Aston Martin seems to be preparing its future in the best possible way. With the arrival of Adrian Newey and the construction of an ultra-modern technology campus, it has the opportunity to shine. It remains to be seen if the team and its green single-seater will live up to its ambitions.
