Andy Cowell: The Praise for Alonso’s Work and the Pressure on Aston Martin for 2026
Former Mercedes success figure, Andy Cowell has joined Aston Martin with the aim of revitalizing the team. First as CEO and then as team director after Mike Krack, he emphasizes the importance of Alonso's working method in the development of the car.
Despite his experience with renowned drivers like Lewis Hamilton, Andy Cowell was particularly impressed by Alonso’s methodology and precision in working with engineers. He highlights the quality of the Spaniard’s feedback, especially during simulations, as well as his ability to prioritize areas for improvement.
A valuable feedback
According to Cowell, Alonso stands out for his ability to identify the key areas on which the team should focus their efforts: « Fernando Alonso’s experiences and feedback are incredible. His feedback during simulator sessions has been exceptionally good every time, as well as his way of prioritizing things. »
He points out that if the double world champion is faced with a multitude of potential improvements, he knows how to reduce them to the essentials, which makes the engineers’ job easier: “We all tend to make a list of 12 points to improve. If we can reduce it to three really important priorities, it’s a strength. Fernando excels in this area,” confirms Cowell, highlighting the value of this ability to prioritize in Formula 1. He portrays the Spanish driver as an exceptional competitor whose work ethic and performance contribution are incredible.
Unsuccessful developments and a new breath
Cowell’s positive comments contrast with a lack of concrete progress on the track in recent seasons. Despite the improvements made to the car, Aston Martin has failed to close the gap with the leaders. Alonso himself highlighted the change in approach undertaken by the team following a technical restructuring, expressing more confidence in the effectiveness of future developments.
Despite estimates of a season start comparable to the end of 2024, Alonso hopes that an evolving package can radically transform the situation: I think we will have some improvements to bring to the car throughout the season, and if one of them revives the car, the rest of the season changes completely and you fight for much higher things.
The pressure on Aston Martin and the priority of 2026
Cowell acknowledges that the pressure should not rest solely on the drivers, but on the entire team. He is aware that he must provide a competitive car as quickly as possible, with a focus on 2026 and the upcoming major regulatory change: « Our job is to deliver you a fast car. »
The Briton expresses his confidence in his team to achieve this goal: « The pressure should be on us (the team), we have the task of creating a fast racing car for them and I am absolutely confident that they will both achieve it. » He considers the presence of Alonso and Stroll as a major asset for the team: « We are lucky to have Fernando and Lance under long-term contract, and that is not a problem at the moment. Our challenge is to create a fast racing car and give it to both of them so they can succeed », he concludes.
The new Aston Martin director emphasizes the crucial role Fernando Alonso plays in the car’s development, while highlighting that the pressure mainly falls on the team. The goal is to offer a competitive car that will allow its drivers to return to the top of the standings, with a particular focus on the year 2026.
