Jonathan Wheatley is anticipated to join Aston Martin as its new team principal, following the announcement of Adrian Newey’s departure from the position.
Earlier this Thursday, Autosport indicated that the esteemed British engineering expert, who had just assumed leadership from Andy Cowell at the season’s commencement, would relinquish his current responsibilities to revert to his prior position at the Silverstone team.
This succession signifies that Aston Martin will appoint its fifth team principal since its entry into Formula 1 in 2021. Let’s review the individuals who previously held the role.
Otmar Szafnauer – The Year 2021
Otmar Szafnauer, former F1 team principal
Photo by: Andreas Beil
Otmar Szafnauer guided the squad through several transformations, starting with its previous identity as Force India and continuing into the Racing Point period, after Lawrence Stroll intervened to rescue the struggling organization.
Upon the adoption of the Aston Martin brand in 2021, Szafnauer kept his role, yet his leadership would extend for merely a single season under the British carmaker’s distinctive green livery.
In early January 2022, Szafnauer’s exit was confirmed, a development largely anticipated given the appointment of Martin Whitmarsh, previously head of McLaren, as CEO four months earlier.
The Romanian-American manager departed having steered the team to a seventh-place rank in the 2021 constructors’ championship, with drivers Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll securing 12th and 13th positions respectively in the individual standings.
Szafnauer subsequently transferred to Alpine, where his period of leadership was unsuccessful.
Mike Krack – From 2022 to 2024
Mike Krack, Chief Trackside Officer of the Aston Martin F1 Team
Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
Mike Krack, who previously headed BMW’s motorsport division, was selected as Szafnauer’s successor before the commencement of the 2022 season.
Whitmarsh showed significant interest in bringing the Luxembourger onboard, stating then: “Mike Krack embodies precisely the dynamic and contemporary leadership qualities desired in a team principal.”
“With a career encompassing high-level motorsport roles at BMW and Porsche, complemented by an engineering foundation in Formula 1 from his time with Sauber, Mike brings a combination of practical knowledge and specialized skills that renders him perfectly suited for our needs.”
Krack’s hiring was part of a significant talent acquisition initiative by Stroll Sr, who was, and continues to be, determined to transform the team into a dominant F1 entity; Krack joined around the same period as Dan Fallows, the new technical director from Red Bull.
He spearheaded the team’s continued expansion, overseeing the establishment of an advanced technical facility at its Silverstone headquarters. On-track performance in 2023 displayed potential, notably with Fernando Alonso challenging the established top three teams.
The opportunity for a maiden victory was missed at the Monaco Grand Prix, followed by a decline in performance, despite the team concluding the 2024 season in fifth place in the constructors’ championship.
However, following three years in the team principal role, Krack was reassigned, although he continues his involvement with the squad as chief trackside officer.
Andy Cowell – For the Year 2025
Andy Cowell, Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Cowell, previously a leading figure in Mercedes’ power unit development, joined Aston five months prior to assuming control from Krack in the team’s subsequent leadership restructuring, maintaining his initial position as chief executive officer.
Cowell, at that juncture, characterized the alterations as “a natural progression of our pre-planned multi-year strategy, and I am exceptionally optimistic about what lies ahead,” despite holding the role for only a single season.
In November 2025, Aston disclosed that Cowell would transition to a different capacity, tasked with supervising the fresh collaboration with engine supplier Honda, thereby clearing the path for Newey to assume the team principal role, a first in his professional journey.
During Cowell’s leadership, the team secured seventh place in the constructors’ championship, achieving its top performance of fifth at the Hungarian Grand Prix, a season marked by the car’s limited competitiveness due to excessive aerodynamic drag.
Adrian Newey – The Year 2026
Adrian Newey, Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Kym Illman / Getty Images
Newey’s tenure as team principal, while brief, was certainly not without incident.
Aston’s inaugural period under F1’s revised regulations has proven exceptionally challenging, with the Honda power unit consistently failing to complete a full Grand Prix.
During an unusual press conference at the Australian Grand Prix, which commenced the season, Newey disclosed the significant setbacks faced by the new collaboration. These issues included an insufficient supply of spare batteries, driver health concerns due to persistent vibrations, and the late revelation in November that personnel from the Japanese manufacturer’s prior F1 engagement with Red Bull had been disbanded.
Returning to a technical capacity will enable Newey to focus on his core strengths, yet this change implies further disruption for the team as it strives to ascend to Formula 1’s pinnacle and realize the ambitious aspirations stemming from owner Stroll’s financial commitment.
