Adrian Newey works so intensively at Aston Martin - and no one is allowed to disturb him

(Motorsport-Total.com) - Adrian Newey is going full throttle: The technical genius is passionately driving forward the development of the new Aston Martin for the upcoming Formula 1 season. The British racing team is one of the teams that already began focusing on the new regulations for 2026 at the beginning of this year, thus very early on.

According to team principal and CEO Andy Cowell, this approach may have led to a "painful" 2025 season, but the team is convinced that this path will pay off in the long run. Newey, who plays a key role in the project , moved into his office in March—complete with his iconic drawing board.

Since then, the 66-year-old has devoted himself entirely to the 2026 car. He occasionally offers some advice on the current car over lunch, but otherwise avoids any distraction from his main goal: success under the new Formula 1 regulations.

At the Monaco Grand Prix, his first visit to the racetrack since joining Aston Martin , Newey revealed that his wife describes his approach to working on a new car as a "design trance." According to Cowell, this description currently hits the nail on the head.

"Yes, he's an exceptionally focused person, extremely ambitious and determined," the Briton reveals in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com , a sister platform of Motorsport-Total.com on the Motorsport Network. "He works on detailed designs on his drawing board in the office."

Cowell: Adrian Newey is "the best in the business"

Does Newey even sleep in the office yet? "Well, we could all use beds in the factory!" laughs Cowell. "When you go to visit him, you see how intensely he works on a detail. Like many of us, it actually seems like a trance."

"His attention to detail is truly impressive," praises the Aston Martin team boss, who is clearly very impressed by the design genius's previous work. "You almost want to apologize for disturbing him."

"It's fascinating to see how he keeps the big picture of a car in mind while balancing all the competing systems. I'd say he's the best in the industry at that." An assessment shared not only by Cowell, but also by the rest of the engineering department at Aston Martin.

"His approach to fundamental engineering principles is incredibly strong. He is incredibly focused. Many structural engineers I have spoken to say: His work based on fundamental physical principles is simply outstanding," emphasizes the Briton, who describes Newey as an "extraordinary engineer."

What role does Newey fulfill at Aston Martin?

But Newey isn't the only high-profile new addition to the technical team; former Ferrari driver Enrico Cardile also joined the team at Silverstone around two months ago. With two such strong personalities, will there be any overlap or even friction? Cowell dismisses this, saying the roles are clearly defined.

"Adrian is very intensively involved in detailed design. Since the beginning of March, he has been immersing himself in the regulations, analyzing the existing concepts, and developing them further. His main focus is on the core architecture of the car, i.e., the areas that one would prefer not to change during a season."

"He's also heavily involved in the aerodynamic details, mechanical components, and chassis development," the Aston Martin team principal continues. "You can see him both at his drawing board and at the engineers' CFD screens."

Relationship between Newey and Cardile "really good"

Cardile, on the other hand, takes on a more overarching role. He coordinates the entire technical system, not just vehicle development. "Enrico looks at the organization as a whole, at the growth and development of the employees, and how everything fits together," says Cowell.

"He looks at how our innovation engine works and ensures that teamwork is optimized so everyone contributes at the right time." Newey and Cardile get along well because "their offices are right next to each other," reveals the team leader.

"They have lunch together most of the time, and I think the relationship between them is really good," Cowell emphasizes. There's no sign of internal competition: "They know their respective strengths, and to me, it all looks very positive."