Billionaire F1 owner's masterplan to oust Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton made clear
COMMENT: Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton could soon have new contenders at the top of F1.
Adrian Newey’s impending arrival at Aston Martin is the first piece in the jigsaw of Lawrence Stroll’s plan to build a Formula One super-team. The billionaire, who is worth a reported £3.6billion, is hoping to break up the elite and challenge Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in the coming years.
Red Bull’s Verstappen has fiercer competition from McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes this season compared to previous years. The four teams have established themselves as the main contenders for the Constructors’ Championship, while McLaren’s Lando Norris could still beat Verstappen to the drivers’ title.
But Stroll is eager for Aston Martin to be among F1’s top teams, too. Aggressive recruitment of some of the sport’s best engineers has concluded with the appointment of Newey, who will join from Red Bull in the first quarter of 2025. It is the sign of a team sending a message to Red Bull and co. that Aston Martin intend to challenge them.
Andy Cowell, engine boss at Mercedes, is also due to join as Group CEO in October as part of some exciting changes. Former Ferrari technical director Enrico Cardile has also been signed.
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Breaking down the established status quo will be difficult and part of a long-term plan but Stroll is putting the first steps into place. The addition of Newey, who the 65-year-old owner insists is the most gifted individual in F1, is the first major milestone in becoming a superpower on the grid.
”Adrian and I have been talking not only for months but actually for years,” Stroll told Bloomberg this week.
"Adrian is clearly the most talented and gifted individual in F1 based on his track record and history. So I'd be very excited for Adrian to join our team, as I think every other F1 team on the grid would feel exactly the same.”
Newey has designed a plethora of Championship-winning cars in a glittering career. He has spent the last 19 years designing Red Bull’s vehicles and has been one of the pivotal figures behind Verstappen’s recent dominance.
The Dutchman, now struggling with performance issues while Newey works away from the current vehicle and on designing next year's car, wishes the 65-year-old had agreed to stay.
But his decision was to leave, reportedly in part due to a power struggle behind the scenes at Red Bull. Newey's switch to Aston Martin, with Ferrari also linked with a deal, is the first major win of Stroll’s masterplan.
