Formula 1 fans hoping for an immediate 'Newey effect' at Aston Martin will need to wait until 2027 for the full impact of the acclaimed designer. Despite a new car package debuting in Hungary that reportedly cut lap times by about two seconds, the team is still below expectations.
Adrian Newey officially joined Aston Martin as managing technical partner on 2 March 2025, after the 2026 aerodynamic regulations were published on 2 January 2025. Upon his arrival, Newey requested the team halt existing work and switch to his design outline, putting them two months behind. Further delays occurred as the wind tunnel was not ready until mid-April, pushing them nearly four months behind competitors.
Adding to the challenges, Aston Martin discovered in November last year that Honda was significantly behind on its engine design. These cumulative issues led to an uncompetitive and unreliable car and engine at the start of the year. The first upgrade to the Honda engine is expected at the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix, but it is anticipated to reduce only some of the gap to leading engines.
F1 president Stefano Domenicali indicated last week that if the ongoing conflict between the US/Israel and Iran does not improve by mid-September, the end-of-season races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi may be cancelled. The most likely alternative is a race in Imola, Italy, in early December.