Adrian Newey and Aston Martin were among the very early favorites to contend for the title in 2026, given Newey’s ingenuity and track record with Red Bull. The team principal was considered a leading mind on the new regulations; however, the British outfit is off to a tough start to the campaign following their preseason showings.
Still, one man is standing firm in his belief in Newey.
Pedro de la Rosa Weighs In on Adrian Newey’s ‘Leadership’ at Aston Martin
Aston Martin representative Pedro de la Rosa, who drove for McLaren and Ferrari in his day, is well-versed in the F1 scene, and in his opinion, Newey’s leadership carries weight in the garage. The engineer has been working alongside World Champions since the ’90s, and his prestigious run at Red Bull only reinforces his preceding reputation.
“Adrian Newey’s leadership is expected to guide Aston Martin back on track despite a challenging start to the Formula 1 season,” This is Formula 1 tweeted. “The 2026 regulations have introduced significant challenges for all teams, including Aston Martin, which faced issues during pre-season events in Barcelona and Bahrain.”
The team’s run in Bahrain was littered with breakdowns and technical issues, including Fernando Alonso suffering a power unit malfunction due to a battery issue. The team ultimately completed only 26 consecutive race simulation laps, leaving much to be desired with the season opener less than two weeks away.
De la Rosa, however, is convinced Newey’s leadership will carry Aston Martin through its struggles.
“When things go right, we don’t need a leader,” he said. “It’s when things go wrong… It’s critical. A turning point is having Adrian in the team… We’re not happy. I mean, let’s be honest, no one is happy when you are a second slower than what you were expecting… It’s just the fact that since Adrian has arrived, his leadership is unquestionable.”
MORE: How Adrian Newey Is Rebuilding Aston Martin for Formula 1’s 2026 Era
The team principal is a seasoned master in his trade, having endured tough times with Red Bull as the Austrian outfit worked its way up from nothing in the 2000s.
“The biggest difference I felt is, for example, yesterday, after a very difficult day testing here in Bahrain, he spoke on the technical debrief, and his leadership is so strong that all the team knows exactly what they have to do,” De la Rosa added.
Newey built World Championship-winning cars at Red Bull, and it’ll be interesting to see how his insights translate to the emerald-green garage.
Aston Martin has been aggressive in its pursuit of becoming a title contender, and its new team principal should play a major role in getting the team to the top.
