Adrian Newey has Lewis Hamilton regret ahead of...

Adrian Newey has Lewis Hamilton regret ahead of Aston Martin move and Ferrari…read more.

Adrian Newey has reportedly chosen Aston Martin over Ferrari after announcing his departure from Red Bull, where he has spent the last 20 years as one of the most revered designers in Formula 1. Newey, often regarded as the most successful designer in the sport’s history, shocked the F1 community earlier this year when he revealed his decision to leave Red Bull. His exit triggered a race among several top teams to secure his services, with Ferrari initially seen as the frontrunner. However, Newey has seemingly opted to join Aston Martin instead, in a move that has stirred considerable speculation.

Ferrari’s hopes of landing Newey were boosted by the anticipated arrival of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who is set to leave Mercedes after over a decade to join the Italian team in 2025. Hamilton’s move to Ferrari generated excitement, not just among fans, but within Ferrari’s management, who saw the potential pairing of Hamilton and Newey as a dream team capable of restoring the Scuderia to its former glory. Newey has expressed his admiration for Hamilton in the past, acknowledging that working with the British driver would be a privilege.

During an interview on F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast last year, Newey reflected on the opportunities he missed during his illustrious career. He admitted that while he had no major regrets, there were certain partnerships he would have liked to explore. “Emotionally, I guess, to a point, yes. But just as, for instance, working with Fernando [Alonso] and Lewis would have been fabulous. But it never happened. It’s just circumstance sometimes, that’s the way it is,” Newey said, when asked if he regretted not working for Ferrari. Despite these sentiments, Newey ultimately decided not to pursue the opportunity to work with Hamilton at Ferrari.

Hamilton himself had expressed enthusiasm about the possibility of working with Newey, especially after Ferrari emerged as a strong contender for his next career move. In a recent interview, Hamilton said, “They [Ferrari] have got a great team and they are making huge progress and their car is quicker this year, but it would be a privilege to work with him [Newey]. If I was to do a list of people I would like to work with, then he would absolutely be at the top of it. Any team would be fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him.” Despite this mutual admiration, Newey seems to have taken a different direction.

Instead, Newey has reportedly opted to work with another F1 legend, Fernando Alonso, who is currently the lead driver for Aston Martin. The team, owned by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, has been aggressively building its operations and made significant strides in recent seasons. Newey’s move to Aston Martin is believed to have been influenced by a lucrative offer from Stroll, with reports suggesting a contract worth £20 million per year. Newey’s decision to join the Silverstone-based team is expected to be officially announced at a press conference on Tuesday, September 10, at Aston Martin’s headquarters.

Newey’s arrival at Aston Martin comes at a pivotal time for the team. While he will have limited input on the 2025 car, his focus will be on designing the car for the 2026 season when a new set of F1 regulations is set to come into effect. Newey’s reputation as a master of new regulations, evidenced by his design of championship-winning cars for Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull, makes him a valuable asset for Aston Martin as they look to capitalize on the upcoming rule changes.

With Red Bull’s dominance in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, largely attributed to Newey’s designs, there is significant anticipation surrounding what he can achieve with Aston Martin. The team, which has shown promise in recent seasons but has yet to challenge for championships, is betting on Newey’s expertise to elevate them to the top tier of F1. His decision to join Aston Martin instead of Ferrari, despite the allure of working with Hamilton, marks a significant shift in the F1 landscape and sets up an intriguing narrative as the sport heads towards its next phase of technical evolution.