Adrian Newey Spearheads Search for Permanent Aston Martin Team Principal as Horner and Seidl Emerge as Candidates

Adrian Newey is scouting for a new Aston Martin Team Principal. Andreas Seidl and Christian Horner emerge as top targets for the 2026 F1 season.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 19, 2026, 9:28 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from PlanetF1

A Strategic Shift in Aston Martin’s Leadership

The management structure at Aston Martin is undergoing a significant transition as Adrian Newey seeks to relinquish his temporary team principal duties. Since assuming the role in late 2025 following the lateral move of Andy Cowell, Newey has been tasked with balancing administrative leadership with his primary focus as managing technical partner. To ensure the team’s aerodynamic development is not diluted, Newey is now at the forefront of a months-long search for a dedicated leader to oversee the squad’s daily operations and public-facing responsibilities.

The Fallout and Reassignment of Andy Cowell

The search for a new principal follows a reorganization involving Andy Cowell, who originally joined the team to lead its 2026 efforts. Reports suggest that fundamental disagreements arose between Cowell and Newey regarding the team’s developmental trajectory, particularly concerning the integration of the new power unit and aerodynamic philosophies. Consequently, Cowell has been moved to a specialized role managing the three-way technical partnership between Honda, Aramco, and Aston Martin, a move Newey described as a better alignment with Cowell’s extensive background in power units.

Leading Candidates and Rejections from the Paddock

Several elite names have surfaced during Newey’s market evaluation, though the search has faced early hurdles. GianPiero Lambiase, the renowned race engineer for Max Verstappen, reportedly turned down an offer to join the Silverstone-based team, opting to remain at Red Bull. Similarly, Mattia Binotto is believed to have declined an approach. However, Jonathan Wheatley remains a person of interest; while he is currently established at Audi, sources suggest personal considerations regarding a return to the UK could make him a viable candidate for the Aston Martin vacancy.