As Aston Martin continues to reshape itself for the next phase of its Formula 1 project, Fernando Alonso has offered a pointed, steadying voice – one that quietly explains why the Silverstone-based team has resisted the temptation to bring Christian Horner into its ranks.
Horner, detached from Red Bull after a shock end last summer to his two-decade reign, has been one of the paddock’s most intriguing loose ends.
His absence since the British Grand Prix has only fuelled speculation, with Alpine now emerging as a possible landing spot. But for a moment, Aston Martin also hovered in that rumour stream.
But inside the team, the direction appears settled. Lawrence Stroll has drawn a firm line under the Horner talk, installing Adrian Newey as team boss and reshuffling Andy Cowell into a new strategic role. Alonso, watching the pieces fall into place, sees coherence – not a vacancy.
Asked whether Aston Martin might still find room for Horner in another capacity, Alonso was careful but unmistakably clear when speaking to Sky F1.
“I don’t know, I don’t think that’s a question for me at the moment,” he said.
“But I think with Adrian taking the role now, Andy taking different responsibilities as well and he’s very capable of doing good things, Lawrence [is] a great leader, determined, [giving] maximum commitment always, things like that, I don’t think that we need any more people in the management. But obviously it’s not my decision.”
It was less a dismissal of Horner’s pedigree than an endorsement of Aston Martin’s existing spine.
Alonso’s argument is simple: clarity beats congestion. With leadership already defined, adding another heavyweight risks muddying the chain of command just as the team is trying to sharpen its focus.
If Horner represents proven authority, Newey represents gravitational pull. Alonso believes the decision to elevate Formula 1’s most celebrated designer does more than tidy up the organisational chart – it makes Aston Martin magnetic.
“I think having Adrian in the team attracts talent,” he said. “That’s for sure. Everyone would like to work with Adrian Newey and learn from him and all this kind of stuff.
“So him being a team principal, I’m sure we will have even more people dreaming of joining the team, so that’s good news for us.”
In Alonso’s telling, Newey’s promotion is not a risk but a recruitment weapon. Engineers don’t need convincing speeches; they need inspiration. And few figures in modern F1 inspire like Newey.
Still, Alonso’s support comes with a subtle caveat. Newey’s genius, he stresses, must remain pointed at the car – not swallowed by boardrooms and microphones.
“I think he has all the skills, to be honest, to make a fast car,” he said.
“Then the role of team principal is a little bit different nowadays and you have to deal with other things, other stuff: media commitments or sponsors or something like that.
Read also:
“I hope Adrian doesn’t need to do all of those and concentrate more in the important stuff.
“But he knows how to operate a team and how everyone should focus in in one direction so he’s a great leader and I’m happy with this announcement.”
For Alonso, who continues his pursuit of a long-awaited third world title, the message is unmistakable. Aston Martin doesn’t need another power broker.
It needs alignment, momentum – and a fast car. In his eyes, keeping Horner out isn’t a missed opportunity, but proof the team finally knows exactly what it wants.
It was different times and a different era for Formula 1 fifty-seven years ago, a…
The FIA has drawn a firm line under one of the most contentious timing controversies…
Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has once again firmly backed Oliver Bearman as Lewis…
Three weeks after the champagne dried in Abu Dhabi and the reality of a first…
Max Verstappen has spent much of his Formula 1 career being admired, feared, and –…
Formula 1 is bracing itself for one of the most dramatic rule changes in its…