Newey will not salvage Aston Martin's car for 2025.

      "Adrian’s entire design effort is directed towards 2026."

      The communication from the Aston Martin garage is unmistakable - Adrian Newey will not salvage the struggling team’s 2025 season. It has been evident that the ambitious team is predominantly concentrating on 2026, with Newey having devoted over a month to the design process. However, Aston Martin is evidently taken aback by how uncompetitive the 2025 car is, which may indicate that Newey's urgent intervention is necessary.

      Team principal Andy Cowell mentioned in Jeddah: "Adrian’s design efforts are entirely concentrated on 2026.” He noted, “He joined in March, and there was an adjustment period with the regulations and the concept work we had completed in the prior two months, along with deadlines regarding the chassis and transmission."

      "The cars for 2026 will undergo testing by the end of January, so to prepare the vehicle, we must accelerate our timelines. Since everything is new and none of it is carried over from the current cars, the workload is significant, and Adrian is dedicated to that."

      Fernando Alonso, who has not yet scored any points this season, stated a few days ago that, to his knowledge, Newey has "no major plans" to easily rectify the 2025 car. Now in Saudi Arabia, he supports Cowell’s update about Newey's current focus. "I believe he is solely working on 2026," the Spaniard said. "If that’s his decision, and I think ultimately it is his call, then with his experience and expertise, I fully endorse that."

      Alonso downplayed rumors about Max Verstappen potentially becoming his teammate next year but stated that the speculation reflects Aston Martin’s status as a future-oriented team. "I often say we are not the current team, which is what I desire, because in the future, I may not be behind the wheel," the two-time champion remarked. "However, I appreciate the journey we are on and the development of this future-oriented team. I will do my utmost to help us achieve the best results as soon as we can."

      Meanwhile, La Gazzetta dello Sport is reporting that Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF is "on the brink of acquiring ownership" of billionaire Lawrence Stroll’s team.