Aston Martin have pulled off a coup by securing Adrian Newey’s legendary drawing board from Red Bull ahead of his highly anticipated arrival.
The celebrated designer, known for his championship-winning cars, officially joins the Silverstone-based outfit as managing technical partner on Monday, March 3, following his departure from Red Bull as chief technical officer in 2024.
Newey’s preference for sketching designs on his trusty drawing board—rather than relying solely on modern computer-aided tools—has long been part of his mystique.
The board itself has a storied history. When Newey moved to Red Bull in 2006, they faced a tough negotiation with then-McLaren boss Ron Dennis, who demanded a hefty sum to release it from Woking. This time, however, the transition from Milton Keynes to Silverstone proved smoother.
Andy Cowell, Aston Martin’s boss, confirmed the board’s arrival with a grin. “I could show you a photo, but there are too many of you to crowd around my phone,” he said to gathered media. “But yes, his office is ready, and the drawing board is there.”
Cowell also revealed that Newey’s first days will include a tailored induction. “Everyone is super excited to work with Adrian—his record speaks for itself,” he said.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming him on-site. We’ll kick things off by introducing him to the key engineering and technical figures in our team, walking him through the tools we use to design the car, and then diving into the 2026 car project while supporting tweaks for 2025.
“I’m sure he’ll get up to speed faster than I did!”
Newey’s arrival comes just weeks before the 2025 Formula 1 season roars into life with the Australian Grand Prix on March 16. Teams will battle it out over 58 laps of the 5.278-kilometer Albert Park semi-street circuit, and Aston Martin is banking on Newey’s genius to elevate their performance in the years ahead.
