Adrian Newey is expected to sign with Aston Martin, it was revealed on Tuesday. Since resigning from Red Bull in the spring, the veteran engineer has drawn interest from multiple teams since handing in his Red Bull resignation in the spring.

According to an Italian story, Aston Martin will introduce Newey in September, with his arrival expected in early 2025. According to Thomas Maher, a team official has denied any immediate confirmation. Aston owner Lawrence Stroll has attempted to persuade the 65-year-old to invest in the project. Stroll took Newey on a tour of the factory and invited him to dinner as part of his charm assault.

Crucially, he’s also given him more power than rival suitors like Ferrari could accept. Newey has already had a say in the hiring of Enrico Cardile, the technical director who will arrive from Maranello in 2025.

Stroll wants to turn his upper midfield team into a championship powerhouse, and he seemingly views Newey as the last piece required. The Englishman has contributed to 25 combined championships in his career.

He’s also achieved success in multiple different eras, including the 1990s with Williams and McLaren, the 2010s with Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull and most recently with Max Verstappen. That will inspire confidence ahead of the 2026 regulation changes.

Adrian Newey would out-earn Lando Norris and Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin

Another temptation to join Aston was the massive contract that Stroll offered. Newey will reportedly make £80 million over the course of a four-year contract, which equates to approximately £385 thousand every week.
Surprisingly, based on Spotrac data, he would outearn 15 of the 20 drivers on the current grid. That squad comprises Fernando Alonso, the two-time world champion for whom he will build vehicles, and McLaren’s Lando Norris.

George Russell is also on the list, along with other race winners Sergio Perez, Carlos Sainz, Valtteri Bottas, Daniel Ricciardo, Esteban Ocon, and Pierre Gasly. This only reinforces Newey’s status in the paddock.

The F1 cost cap excludes driver salaries and remuneration for the three highest-paid staff members. Employee bonuses are also not subject to these restrictions.
Former Red Bull staffer issues ‘collapse’ warning following Adrian Newey’s departure

While Newey’s Red Bull salary is unknown, the world champions will undoubtedly save a lot of money with his departure. Pierre Wache and Enrico Balbo are taking on more responsibilities after signing new contracts, so Christian Horner will not have to worry about the cost of an external recruitment either.

But these are still worrying times at Milton Keynes. Last week, the team confirmed that sporting director Jonathan Wheatley would be following Newey out the door to join Audi.

One former Red Bull employee thinks they’re collapsing, though Horner will hope that’s it for senior departures. The team already appear to have lost their way in the development race, with McLaren still seemingly in front despite a series of recent upgrades.

Back in March, Jos Verstappen warned that the team would ‘explode’. While they may not have reached that point just yet, the situation could worsen if they lose out on the constructors’ championship this year.