What Laurence Stroll told staff about Christian Horner as Newey takes control at Aston Martin

 Stroll clarified Horner’s situation as Aston Martin confirmed a major leadership shift.

Adrian Newey returned to the Aston Martin pit wall at the Qatar Grand Prix after the team revealed he will take over as team principal in 2026. The legendary F1 designer steps into a role he has never held before, while current boss Andy Cowell transitions into the position of chief strategy officer.

The announcement followed growing speculation last week that Cowell’s job was under threat, with Christian Horner initially viewed as one of the potential replacements. Newey’s appointment appeared to close that door — though the situation may be more nuanced as Aston Martin continues to reshape its leadership structure.

What Stroll told staff about Horner’s future at Aston Martin

Reports suggested Newey had personally shown Horner around the Aston Martin factory, hinting any prior tension from their final months at Red Bull may have eased. But multiple sources close to the team told Planet F1 that no such tour ever happened.

When Lawrence Stroll addressed staff on Wednesday to confirm the restructuring, he reportedly stated that “Horner isn’t joining the team.” However, insiders believe Stroll was referring specifically to the current moment and the team principal role. With Newey already bringing in former Red Bull logistics chief Paul Field as COO, Horner’s potential long-term arrival in a different capacity remains on the table.

How Newey stepped in as another candidate emerged

Andreas Seidl — formerly McLaren team principal and briefly tied to Audi’s F1 project — was considered the preferred option as recently as last Sunday. But according to Planet F1, Newey “intervened,” telling Stroll he was the stronger choice to lead the team.

Inside the factory, one Aston Martin employee described the environment as “out of control” after a series of senior engineering hires created a murky organisational structure. With Newey becoming the fourth team principal since the 2021 rebrand, the expectation is that he may only hold the role temporarily while Stroll searches for a long-term managerial figure to stabilise the operation.