Ferrari declines Adrian Newey's terms: legendary F1 designer to join Aston Martin
06/08/2024 10:23
Adrian Newey has made his choice: he will not be joining Scuderia Ferrari, opting instead to go to Aston Martin under Lawrence Stroll’s leadership. This news is set to be officially announced in September. Hence, in the words of “The Betrothed”, “this marriage is not to take place, neither tomorrow, nor at any other time”.
Autosprint and Italian daily newspaper Corriere dello Sport, through an article by journalist Fulvio Solms, broke the exclusive news. The details include a €100 million deal, complete control over every phase of the Aston Martin Formula 1 project, and a structure that impressed the former Red Bull designer. Added to this is an exclusive relationship with Honda for the power unit, particularly relevant for the regulatory changes that will be introduced starting with the 2026 Formula 1 championship, and the ability to continue working at his own pace, not far from home, if one can say so.
There remains uncertainty about the drivers. Aside from Lawrence Stroll’s son (for obvious reasons), it is unclear if the paths of Adrian Newey and Fernando Alonso will cross. It is more plausible that Lawrence Stroll will attempt to bring Max Verstappen to Aston Martin, at least for the 2026 campaign. This move would recreate the partnership that saw Max Verstappen become (as of now) a three-time Formula 1 world champion. It is worth noting that Adrian Newey and Max Verstappen have known each other for many years, since the three-time world champion began his career at Red Bull. But the real question is another.
Why did Adrian Newey, who had a pre-contract (a document just as binding) with the Italian team, a fact confirmed by several sources in the last few weeks, eventually said “no thanks” to Ferrari and instead choose to join the team of Lawrence Stroll? In reality, things are a bit more complicated. According to some paddock whispers, it wasn’t so much Adrian Newey making a grand refusal as Ferrari deciding not to continue their persistent pursuit of the most successful designer in Formula 1 history.
The Maranello team had previously attempted to recruit Adrian Newey for the first time in the early 1980s, then about a decade later with Jean Todt, half-heartedly in 2014 with Stefano Domenicali, and now once again. This time, even Piero Ferrari, the founder’s son, executive vice president, and a person with a great deal of knowledge about Formula 1, got involved. Curiously, Ferrari has made these approaches to Adrian Newey every ten years. However, it seems that the legendary car designer presented a long and significant list of very detailed requests, including numerous decision-making prerogatives.
If the Maranello top management had accepted these terms, they would have bypassed not only the team principal but also, to some extent, the chief executive officer Benedetto Vigna. In the end, this convinced Frederic Vasseur, most likely with the approval of John Elkann, to withdraw from what had probably already become a bidding war between Ferrari and Aston Martin, after other potential contenders like McLaren and Mercedes had quickly dropped out for various reasons. Thus, for the fourth time, the British engineer turned down Maranello’s offer. Or rather, the two parties could not reach an agreement.
If the reports from Italian daily newspaper Corriere dello Sport and Autosprint are accurate, it is hard to entirely put the blame on Ferrari. A brand like Maranello could hardly tolerate such a broad delegation of powers to Adrian Newey. That said, a lot of fans and paddock insiders believe that a mind as brilliant and creative as Adrian Newey’s might have been worth any request. Also, it is worth reflecting on the fact that Ferrari’s “final” organizational structure, including who will replace Italian aerodynamicist Enrico Cardile, the former Ferrari technical director and Head of Aerodynamics Department, is still unknown.
The motto for John Elkann, Benedetto Vigna and Frederic Vasseur seems to be “the team matters the most.” Let's hope that the Maranello top management is indeed right, though given the recent years, there are serious doubts about whether this will be enough to mount a challenge for the Formula 1 world title in the upcoming seasons. These questions cast a troubling shadow over Ferrari’s future years in Formula 1. John Elkann had promised that Ferrari would win the championship before reaching the historical drought of 21 years, as the previous one dates back from 1979 to 2000, when Michael Schumacher and Jean Todt brought the title in Maranello, starting a beautiful period of dominance for the Italian side. Ferrari fans are understandably anxious as that milestone approaches.
Therefore, the great and definitive “no” has arrived, likely marking Adrian Newey’s last professional experience before a golden and well-deserved retirement from the world of motorsport. Unless there is a last-minute plot twist, which seems highly improbable if not impossible at this stage, the decision is final. But as we know, reality often surpasses imagination.
The post Ferrari declines Adrian Newey’s terms: legendary F1 designer to join Aston Martin appeared first on Scuderia Fans.
