Aston Martin F1 preparing for more than just 2026, says Cowell

As Formula 1 braces for a seismic shift in technical regulations for the 2026 season, Aston Martin team principal and CEO Andy Cowell has emphasized that the Silverstone-based squad is not just preparing for next year but is building a foundation for sustained success well into the future.

The sport will enter in 2026 one of the most significant regulatory shifts in its history, with both chassis design and power units undergoing major overhauls.

While most teams are already zeroing in on next year’s campaign, Cowell insists Aston Martin’s focus runs much deeper than a single season.

The former Mercedes engine guru, who joined Aston Martin as Group CEO last year before stepping into the team principal role, detailed his approach to leading Aston through this transformative period, highlighting the team’s focus on long-term growth, strategic investments, and a relentless pursuit of performance improvement.

With a new factory, a partnership with Honda, and the expertise of design legend Adrian Newey, Aston Martin is positioning itself as a championship contender for 2026 and beyond.

Learning the Team from the Ground Up

“Joining the team, I was keen to learn about the team overall and then dig down into the world of aerodynamics as an area that I knew of, but not any great detail as to what an aerodynamicist does,” Cowell said, speaking to RN365.

“And then you pull a plan together, and you get stuck into going from what you can see to where you'd like the team to be.”

This methodical process reflects his commitment to understanding every facet of the organization before implementing changes.

“That learning just carries on. Every day is a new experience of learning and reflecting and thinking about ‘what's the core purpose of the team?’” he added.

“Getting everybody focused on the objective of making our formula Aston Martin, powered by Honda racing car, to be better and measured against our reference.”

To achieve this, Cowell is fostering a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring that every department contributes to performance gains.“

“How do we get it so that every single area of our business focuses on performance improvement?” he asked. “The steeper we can make that curve, the quicker we will improve, which means you overtake the opposition. And if you keep focused on that. You don't let glory pollute your head.

“You stay ahead, so it's trying to get everything aligned to that, listening to all the requests and working out, what are we going to do, first, second and third - because you can't do everything at the same time.”

This disciplined approach underscores Aston Martin’s determination to climb the competitive ladder systematically.

A Time of Change

Aston Martin has been in the midst of a transformation, highlighted by its state-of-the-art Silverstone factory and wind tunnel, as well as the arrival of legendary designer Adrian Newey, who is devoting his efforts exclusively to the new regulations.

Cowell acknowledged the weight of managing short-term racing demands alongside long-term restructuring.

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“Change is not trivial,” Cowell said. “We're going racing, we're engineering a car for next year, adding change on top of that is extra workload. Making change requires extra effort.

“There are always hurdles. There's always a feeling of, ‘do we really need to?’ and it's just leaning into that.

“It’s leaning into that and keeping the medium to long-term focus, because it’s not just about 2026. It’s the first season of us being a works team.

“But there are many more championships after that point, and we want to be strong across all of those.”

Long-Term Vision

Cowell credited team owner Lawrence Stroll for maintaining a clear, investment-heavy vision that reinforces Aston Martin’s commitment to future success.

“That’s where Lawrence is exceptionally good at having that vision and investing further for the medium to long-term,” he said.

“You don't invest in a wind tunnel if it's short-term. You don't invest in the campus that we've experienced if you’re there for the short term.

“Lawrence gives a very clear vision. We're all impatient, but the investment supports a medium to long-term approach.”

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