Aston Martin is reportedly considering a replacement for Adrian Newey as team principal after just two rounds of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
According to Planet F1, Newey is actually driving the search for a new team principal, with the 67-year-old leading the squad’s evaluation of the market over recent months.
While poor performance on the track might be seen as a reason for the move, the report states the search had been in action for some time.
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Newey stepped into the team principal role at Aston Martin at the end of 2025, eight months after starting as managing technical partner.
To experts in F1, taking over the principal role came as a surprise, due to all the other responsibilities that come with the job.
Adrian Newey, Team Principal of Aston Martin. Getty
Newey is known for not enjoying the spotlight, preferring to focus on car performance and departmental optimisation.
Aston Martin has had a tough start to the season, with drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll yet to register a point after rounds in Australia and China, with both competitors retiring in Shanghai.
But questions about the team began to bubble ahead of the season opener and their inclusion on race day was reportedly in doubt.
It’s understood two of the four battery packs provided by Honda for the race weekend began to malfunction after just the first hour of the first practice session.
Newey claimed a shortage of F1 expertise within Honda’s personnel has been a major contributing element to their difficulties.
He was absent from his post in Shanghai, having taken charge of the team at the season-opener in Australia, raising eyebrows.
However, the team stated they knew in advance that Newey would not be in Shanghai.
“There is a plan in place about where he’s supposed to come and where he does not, so we have not changed that,” Aston Martin’s chief trackside officer Mike Krack said.
“It was always clear that Adrian was not going to do all the races.
“These days, with modern communication, I think it doesn’t really matter where people are sitting.
“I heard Sky Germany was commentating the Australian Grand Prix from Germany, so I think that is no problem these days.”
Former Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner. Getty
Reports state former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is not being considered for the role even though his agreed absence in F1 is coming to an end.
Horner and Newey reportedly butted heads at Red Bull, with some suggestions the latter left the team over text message allegations levelled at Horner.
The former Red Bull principal could be available to start work by the time the European leg of the Formula 1 season begins.
Horner might not want to join Aston Martin but reports state he may be after a bigger chunk of a team if he returns.
Since Stroll tempted Newey to join by way of a minority shareholding, it’s said Horner may seek a similar deal.
Horner is known to be one of several parties bidding for the 24 per cent stake in the Alpine F1 team currently owned by US investment company Otro Capital, with one of the rival bidders understood to be a Mercedes effort spearheaded by Toto Wolff.