Adrian Newey, who was announced as the future team principal of Aston Martin on Wednesday, reportedly took Christian Horner, former team principal of Red Bull, on a tour of the team’s factory during the night. Despite the meeting, BBC Sport claims that Horner “will not be given a role at Aston Martin,” according to people close to the team. However, Craig Slater, a reporter for Sky Sports News, suggested that Horner’s presence on the team has not been ruled out yet.
Slater commented: “This could still be an interim solution, not necessarily removing Newey’s title as team principal, which he will retain from the 2026 season onwards. With Horner possibly taking on more of the team’s political and media representation roles, leaving Newey as team principal to dedicate as much time as possible to the future cars of Aston Martin.”
The reporter added that there could be space for Horner in an executive director role, similar to the one Zak Brown holds at McLaren: “Horner has been linked with the possibility of succeeding Cowell as team principal himself. Horner cannot work in F1 until April next year. He is looking not only for a job in F1 but also for an ownership stake in a team.”
Slater further commented that there is potential for a collaboration between Newey and Horner, despite past differences that have been resolved. “With Horner possibly taking on more of the team’s political and media representation roles, leaving Newey as team principal and also to dedicate as much time as possible to the project of iterating the future cars of Aston Martin.”
Newey’s transition to the helm of Aston Martin is part of an internal restructuring that removed Andy Cowell from his roles as team principal and executive director 13 months after his arrival at Silverstone.
