Costa claims that Aston Martin made a significant error regarding Newey.

      Aldo Costa, the former engineering chief at Ferrari and Mercedes, believes Aston Martin has made a significant mistake regarding the integration of renowned designer Adrian Newey. His remarks come during a troubling start for Aston Martin in the 2026 season with its new partner Honda, which has faced numerous issues including vibrations, reliability, and drivability.

      Costa also expressed doubts about the team's overall direction and the driver pairing of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. "Potential? I’m not sure," Costa stated on the Terruzzi Racconta podcast. "I’m not fond of the Aston Martin combination - perhaps even from a mindset perspective - with Stroll and Alonso."

      He noted that Aston Martin’s poor performance is particularly concerning given the considerable investment in the project. "Cadillac isn’t in the race yet," Costa remarked. "However, Aston Martin is performing worse compared to its potential."

      Costa was notably critical of Newey’s public criticism of Honda following Aston Martin’s poor showing in Melbourne early in the season. "I have to say, it’s unprecedented for me to see Newey launch such a misplaced and publicly aggressive attack at the start of a championship against your own partner," he commented. "You simply don’t do that."

      The experienced engineer feels that this incident revealed deeper management issues within the team. "Regrettably, it showcased a lack of management and leadership," Costa remarked. "When they later stated, ’In November we went to Japan, we noticed they weren’t using the same personnel from the old Formula 1 project and were behind on performance...’ In November? You should have known this before then."

      Costa emphasized that true leadership involves defending the team publicly during tough times. "To me, a leader isn’t someone who states: ’If we win, it’s due to me - if we lose, it’s on you.’ That’s not how it should be. A good leader, in my view, does just the opposite."

      He also suggested that Newey's strengths lie more in technical aspects than in organizational capabilities. "I’ve never collaborated with him, but I hold immense respect for him - he’s arguably the most successful person in Formula 1," he noted. "I have great admiration for his technical skills."

      However, he added, "Feedback from those who have worked alongside him indicates that while his technical talent is extraordinary, his organizational and managerial skills are slightly less adept." Costa believes this is why Newey excelled at Red Bull Racing, where he operated within a larger management framework. "Thus, he requires support - finding a team like Red Bull is crucial," he said. "At Red Bull, although he played a significant role, he didn’t officially carry the title of technical director."

      These comments emerge as Aston Martin seems to be subtly adjusting Newey’s internal role following his well-publicized arrival, while recent reports in the UK have suggested that the 66-year-old has also been recovering from illness and working partially from home.