Newey: One might argue that certain tools used by Aston Martin F1 are inadequate.

      Lance Stroll is 'better than many realize'

      Adrian Newey expresses uncertainty about whether his debut with Aston Martin will result in a championship-winning car next year. The renowned designer in Formula 1, known for his notable successes and high earnings, began his tenure at the team in March. However, Monaco marks his first appearance at the track in Aston Martin colors.

      Despite not being fully engaged at Red Bull prior to his departure last year, the 66-year-old revealed in Monaco that he has been fully committed to Aston Martin. "I took a weekend off two weeks ago," he remarked with a smile, "but aside from that, I've been at the factory since March. My wife says I enter a trance-like state when I’m designing, and I understand why; it’s a period of intense focus, with all my cognitive resources dedicated to the design."

      Newey's timing at Aston Martin is particularly advantageous as it aligns with his expertise in navigating new regulations from the outset. Initially, however, he was not very enthusiastic about the 2026 regulations. "My first reaction upon seeing them was similar to 2022—I felt there wasn’t much scope for the designer," he mentioned in Monaco. "But when you delve into the specifics, there’s a reasonable degree of flexibility. You can always wish for more, but I expect to see varied solutions at the start of next year before everything begins to align in future seasons."

      He spends "99 percent" of his time on the 2026 project but also meets "with the team still working on the 2025 car." "We talk about the strengths and weaknesses, and hopefully, my colleagues can gain insights from that."

      One concern for Newey is that despite Aston Martin’s substantial recent investments in infrastructure, some weaknesses remain. "You could argue that some of our tools are lacking," he told Spain’s AS newspaper. "Especially the simulator. It requires significant improvements because currently, there’s no correlation, and it's a vital development tool. Not having that is a constraint, but we must proceed in the meantime. It’s likely a two-year task."

      He added: "The personnel are quite capable, but we need to ensure better collaboration, possibly through improved organization. This stems from the team’s heritage in Jordan, Force India, and Racing Point. It was a team that exceeded expectations, but they have grown significantly in a short period. Now, everything must be recalibrated accordingly."

      Newey is quite satisfied with the new wind tunnel and factory, which he regards as "undeniably the best in Formula 1." Nonetheless, he noted: "These are intricate tools still under development, so productivity isn't up to par yet. A good wind tunnel is essential, but ultimately, the human factor makes the difference."

      Another evident weakness at Aston Martin is the driver lineup. While Fernando Alonso is a legendary figure in F1, at 43, he has only committed to the team until 2026. Conversely, Lance Stroll, the son of team owner Lawrence Stroll, is perceived by many to be on the team primarily due to this connection.

      Newey defends the 26-year-old Canadian. "When comparing Lance to his previous teammates, such as Checo (Perez), Nico Hulkenberg, Sebastian (Vettel), and now Fernando, he has consistently been competitive. Every driver he has raced against has been highly skilled, and Lance is truly better than many give him credit for."

      Regarding Alonso, Newey remarked: "Fernando is very significant. He’s been a rival for many years, along with Lewis (Hamilton), but I think I’ve mentioned before that the two drivers from the modern era I aspire to work with are Lewis and Fernando. While I haven’t yet worked with both, at least I have Fernando now," he said with a smile.

      When asked if Alonso would finally have a car capable of winning a third world championship next year, Newey admitted, "I have no idea."