"I think we will have plenty of time": Aston Martin's boss not bothered by Adrian Newey's delayed timeline to join the team

Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack is not concerned about Adrian Newey’s late start with the team in 2025. Speaking to the media in Azerbaijan, the Silverstone team chief expressed confidence that Newey’s transition into the team will be smooth.

Newey, who will join Aston Martin on March 1, 2025, will have limited impact on the development of the team’s car for that year. However, his influence is expected to shape the car’s development direction throughout the season. The first car designed by Newey will not appear until 2026, raising questions about his role and potential impact on the championship in 2025.

Krack believes Aston Martin has ample time to adjust their technical structure to integrate Newey effectively. As Managing Technical Partner and shareholder, Newey will join after the preseason tests and before the season opener in Melbourne. Krack is confident that the team will be able to leverage Newey’s expertise from the outset, ensuring a productive collaboration.

Asked if the late joining date minimizes his effect over the 2025 car, the Aston Martin team principal said:

“No I think we will have plenty of time with him joining in March. We will have a close look at it but we will have to, as I said in Zandvoort, any team that can have someone like that will have to discuss its structure and how to adjust it to make it, to make the best use of it. This is what we're going to do, we're not in a rush, we have plenty of time, we have some plans that we will need to discuss with him, but I think we will find a good solution.”

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Mike Krack believes Adrian Newey's arrival will not overlap with other technical personnel duties

Mike Krack is confident that Adrian Newey’s arrival at Aston Martin will not disrupt the roles of the team’s existing technical chiefs. Currently, Aston Martin boasts former Ferrari aerodynamic head Enrico Cardile and former Red Bull Racing aero chief Dan Fallows as their technical directors. The situation is reminiscent of McLaren’s experience with David Sanchez, who was poached from Ferrari but eventually joined Alpine.

Krack believes Newey’s addition will not compromise the positions of the current technical team. Instead, he anticipates that Aston Martin will need to review and adjust their organizational structure to integrate Newey effectively.

Asked if Aston Martin recruiting Newey could make other technical personnel uncomfortable within the structure, Krack said:

"No I don't think so. I think at the end of the day what we have you know, you have to look at which areas you want to cover, how much overlap do you want to have in a structure, and who is accountable for what. That is an exercise that we have to go through or we have to review, but you have to do that each time in each department, you know, with each new recruit, you know, you need to define what are the roles and the responsibilities and what is this new employee accountable for. And it's the same with the senior leadership or the technical leadership. I think if you cover all the areas and you allocate them properly, there will be no such problems.”

Aston Martin has assembled an impressive lineup with the addition of Adrian Newey, who will lead the technical department alongside Dan Fallows and Enrico Cardile. The British engineer is set to reunite with Honda Racing starting in 2026, as the Japanese manufacturer becomes the engine supplier for the Silverstone team.

With a revamped team infrastructure and a new wind tunnel facility, Aston Martin is poised to be a formidable contender. Additionally, there is speculation that Max Verstappen could be on Aston Martin’s radar for the 2026 season and beyond. While the Dutchman is currently under contract with Red Bull Racing until the end of 2028, the possibility of a move remains, reminiscent of Lewis Hamilton’s shift to Ferrari.