Adrian Newey officially joined Aston Martin at the start of March this year as Managing Technical Partner, and after a short settling-in period, he quickly got stuck into the team’s 2026 project.

Team boss Andy Cowell said Newey made an immediate impression. “From day one we made sure we prepared his working environment,” Cowell, quoted by PlanetF1, explained.

“He came in and went to meetings about the new rules, about the concepts we had worked on. We explained the countdown to the first test and the first race. And we pointed out all the deadlines for submitting information for the production of this [2026] car.”

READ MORE: Adrian Newey starts at Aston Martin: What can he really change?

Aston Martin is throwing everything it has at 2026. The team has a brand new factory, a new wind tunnel, a works engine deal coming with Honda, and strong backing from Aramco. With big rule changes on the way for engines, chassis, aerodynamics and tyres, Aston sees this as a huge chance to move up the grid.

Newey, one of the most successful designers in Formula 1 history, wasted no time getting involved. Cowell described how Newey’s approach is very hands-on and focused.

“He went straight to work with engineers to do sketches on his drawing board. He is in that design cycle to design fundamental parts of the car,” Cowell said.

“Ninety per cent of the creation of a car is in the factory and that is where we want Adrian. Sure, he does not go to meetings, he does not answer emails, he is just putting together a fast car, and we all support that process.”

Even though Aston Martin’s start to the 2025 season has been tough, with just 10 points from the first five races, there is no plan to pull Newey onto the current car.

“One hundred per cent of Adrian’s designing time is focused on 26,” Cowell made clear. “The test is at the end of January, so getting a car ready for that point requires a slightly earlier decision point. And clearly, everything is new. There is zero carryover.”

The road to 2026 will not be easy, but Cowell is confident in the direction they are heading. “We have to work hard, the targets are complicated. The timescales are complicated. But we are fighting very hard to have a fast car in 2026.”