Adrian Newey’s decision to join Aston Martin instead of Ferrari next year has stirred conversations within Formula 1. Lewis Hamilton, the star driver moving from Mercedes to Ferrari for next season and current lead driver Charles Leclerc have both reacted to Newey’s final choice.
Adrian Newey, one of Formula 1’s most celebrated engineers, recently announced his departure from Red Bull, creating a flurry of speculation about his future team. After discussions with Ferrari, Newey’s decision was finally revealed last Tuesday, confirming he would be joining Aston Martin starting March next year.
When asked about his thoughts on Newey’s decision to join a rival team, Hamilton was feeling positive.
“Honestly, no,” he said blunty when asked if he felt disappointed, via ESPN.
Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team arrives at the track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on September 13, 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Adrian Newey’s decision to join Aston Martin instead of Ferrari has sparked a reaction from Lewis Hamlton.
Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
“I feel like, while I’ve mentioned before that it would be an honor to work with Adrian, I have been privileged to work with two championship-winning teams that didn’t have Adrian.
“It doesn’t change my goal, or my focus with the next move. So I still believe 100 percent that there’s lots we can do there.”
Charles Leclerc, echoing a similar sentiment, holds respect for Newey’s decision.
“There are no disappointments [about Newey’s decision]. It’s not like we haven’t tried or spoken to Adrian. I know that there were talks and he made his decision. I respect his decision.” Leclerc continued:
“At the end, as Ferrari, we have always considered more the group than the individual. Of course, Adrian has an incredible [record] and has done amazing things, but we have an amazing group and I have no doubts that going forward we have an extremely strong team to come back at the top.
“I’m really happy with the structure.
“Obviously, it’s Fred’s job to try and put the team in the best possible place to try and win races and I 200 percent trust Fred and I’m completely onboard with his vision.
“It’s a continuous process to try and improve Ferrari over the years and we are in the middle of this process. But I am super happy with the way he sees things and the things he does,” Leclerc stated.
Adrian Newey’s engineering acumen will undoubtedly be a formidable asset to Aston Martin, and matched with their large investment in their facilities, 2026 could be a very good year for the Silverstone outfit. However, Ferrari’s focus on its robust organizational framework and Vasseur’s leadership are expected to keep the Scuderia firm in its pursuit of future championships.
