Adrian Newey will leave Red Bull during the first quarter of 2025; Newey will join Aston Martin and work with two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso for the first time; watch the Azerbaijan GP live on Sky Sports this weekend, with Sunday's race live at 12pm
Tuesday 10 September 2024 20:54, UK
Aston Martin have confirmed the signing of legendary F1 designer Adrian Newey as Managing Technical Partner and a shareholder of the team.
The 65-year-old's exit from his role as chief technical officer at Red Bull was confirmed in May after an apparent breakdown in his relationship with team principal Christian Horner.
Newey will start work at Aston Martin on March 1 2025, having agreed to remain with Red Bull until then to see out his work on the company's first hypercar, the RB17.
Sky Sports News understands that Newey will earn a basic salary of £20m, rising to £30m with bonuses at Aston Martin.
"I am thrilled to be joining the Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 Team," said Newey.
"I have been hugely inspired and impressed by the passion and commitment that Lawrence [Stroll] brings to everything he is involved with. Lawrence is determined to create a world-beating team.
"He is the only majority team owner who is actively engaged in the sport. His commitment is demonstrated in the development of the new AMR Technology Campus and wind tunnel at Silverstone, which are not only state of the art but have a layout that creates a great environment to work in.
"Together with great partners like Honda and Aramco, they have all the key pieces of infrastructure needed to make Aston Martin a world championship-winning team and I am very much looking forward to helping reach that goal."
Newey's signing is the latest show of ambition from Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll, with the team having recently appointed former Ferrari designer Enrico Cardile as chief technical officer and former Mercedes engine guru Andy Cowell as group chief executive.
Newey will work with two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who drives for the team alongside Lance Stroll, the son of the team's owner.
Aston Martin will hope Newey can play a key role in the design of their car for the 2026 season, which sees the introduction of new regulations and presents a major opportunity for the team to establish itself among the sport's elite squads.
Newey has proved on multiple occasions he can design a race-winning F1 car when changes to the regulations take place, showing that most recently in 2022 with Red Bull.
The 65-year-old has designed 14 championship-winning F1 cars during his time at Williams, McLaren and Red Bull, where he had worked since 2006.
"This is huge news. Adrian is the best in the world at what he does - he is at the top of his game - and I am incredibly proud that he is joining the Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 Team," said Lawrence Stroll
"It's the biggest story since the Aston Martin name returned to the sport and another demonstration of our ambition to build a Formula 1 team capable of fighting for world championships. As soon as Adrian became available, we knew we had to make it happen.
"When he saw what we have built at Silverstone - our incredible AMR Technology Campus, the talented group of people we have assembled and the latest wind tunnel in the sport - he quickly understood what we are trying to achieve.
"We mean business - and so does he. Adrian shares our hunger and ambition, he believes in this project, and he will help us write the next chapter in Aston Martin Aramco's Formula 1 story."
Alonso signed a new two-year deal earlier this season to stay with Aston Martin until at least the end of 2026, so will have at least one campaign with a Newey-designed car.
The two-time world champion has not won a race since 2013 and his two world titles came back in 2005 and 2006.
He will be 45 during the 2026 season and is already looking forward to working with Newey.
"We have been racing against each other for many years. I would say he was more an inspiration. Thanks to his talent, we all got better as a driver and engineer, team. We all had to raise the bar thanks to him to be able to compete.
"Today is an incredible day for the team. Lawrence's vision is taking shape with this new building, with Adrian, with Honda, a new wind tunnel. It is definitely a team for the future.
"For me, it is an incredible opportunity professionally to work with Adrian and these people that you can learn so much.
"I was talking with Lance a few weeks ago, we had an incredible opportunity to work with everyone at Aston Martin. It is part of our growth on and off the track."
Thursday September 12
12pm: Drivers' Press Conference
Friday September 13
7.55am: F2 Practice
10am: Azerbaijan GP Practice One (session starts 10.30am)
11.55am: F2 Qualifying
1.45pm: Azerbaijan GP Practice Two (session starts 2pm)
3.15pm: The F1 Show
Saturday September 14
9.15am: Azerbaijan GP Practice Three (session starts 9.30am)
11.10am: F2 Sprint
12.15pm: Azerbaijan GP Qualifying build-up
1pm: AZERBAIJAN GP QUALIFYING*
3pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook
Sunday September 15
8.30am: F2 Feature Race
10:30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Azerbaijan GP build-up*
12pm: The AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX*
2pm: Chequered Flag: Azerbaijan GP reaction
3pm: Ted's Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 leaves mainland Europe for Baku and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership - No contract, cancel anytime
