Aston Martin team principal Andy Cowell has expressed an almost defiant optimistic view on his team’s future in Formula 1, boldly asserting that the Silverstone-based outfit will not only reach the pinnacle of the sport but will stay there and win back-to-back championships.
Yet, with the squad currently mired in midfield and the looming 2026 regulation changes promising both opportunity and risk, questions remain over whether Aston Martin can truly deliver on its ambitions.
Since the former Racing Point operation rebranded in 2021, the team has invested heavily in personnel and infrastructure. High-profile additions such as managing technical partner Adrian Newey and new chief technical officer Enrico Cardile have joined the fold, while a state-of-the-art factory and wind tunnel became fully operational earlier this year.
Despite the upgrades, Aston Martin currently sit seventh in the Constructors’ standings with 69 points, just three points behind sixth-placed Racing Bulls, underscoring the razor-thin margins in the midfield battle.
Cowell’s ‘Big Hairy Audacious Goals’
Speaking on the team’s YouTube channel, Cowell outlined the ethos he believes will propel Aston Martin to the top.
“Honesty, and don’t overpromise, and make sure we’ve got a single focus – the race car,” the Briton said. “It all comes back to the race car, so what are we all going to do for the race car?
©Aston Martin
“Set big, big goals – set goals that everybody thinks are impossible, but then make it possible, and that’s teamwork. The vision to get to the top and then staying at the top. Coming up with those tough targets – ‘BHAGs’, I like to call them.”
Pressed on the meaning of the ‘BHAG’ – or ‘Big Hairy Audacious Goal’ – Cowell made it clear: “To win multiple championships, back-to-back.”
And when asked if he genuinely believes Aston Martin can achieve that, he responded with unwavering conviction: “That’s what we’re striving to do, and yes, it will happen.”
Teamwork, Hunger, and the Daily Grind
Cowell emphasized that for Aston Martin, success is built on collaboration.
“Teamwork,” he explained. “It’s an engineering business, working as a team, for the good of that race car.”
He also welcomed impatience among staff, arguing that ambition should be encouraged.
“Let’s have that hunger,” Cowell added, before acknowledging that he shares it himself. “There isn’t a single day where I feel like I’ve achieved enough.”
©Aston Martin
While Cowell’s vision is inspiring, the reality on track suggests that bridging the gap to the top may be far trickier than optimism alone can guarantee.
With the 2026 regulation shake-up on the horizon, Aston Martin’s gamble on talent and technology will face its first true test – and the margin for error is razor-thin in an already competitive midfield.
A misstep could leave them chasing shadows, no matter how audacious their goals
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Cowell’s track record as a former Mercedes engine chief lends credence to his leadership. But Formula 1 is a brutal proving ground where ambition alone doesn’t win races.
As Aston Martin eyes the top, the sport’s skeptics will be watching closely, wondering if Cowell’s confidence is a harbinger of greatness or a prelude to disappointment.
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