Netflix documentary series season 6 Drive to Survive The series begins with a focus on Aston Martin and owner Lawrence Stroll's attempts to build a championship team. “I've never been the kind of guy who can sit on the beach or play golf all day. Whatever I do, I've always been fighting to win. That's what drives me, motivates me, excites me,” Stroll declared at a glitzy event in the southeastern French seaside city of Antibes.
The next piece of the winning puzzle now falls into place.
Aston Martin has embarked on major transformation in recent years, starting with the construction of a modernised factory and bringing in veteran former champion Fernando Alonso as one of its two drivers, but on Tuesday the team announced its newest addition, welcoming legendary designer Adrian Newey as the newest member of its management team.
A move that could reshape the entire F1 grid.
From the moment Newey announced he would be leaving Red Bull at the end of the 2024 F1 season, speculation was rife around the paddock as to his next destination. Newey had been linked with every team on the grid and there was much speculation the legendary engineer would end up at Ferrari, but in the end Stroll and his vision for the future won out.
Of course, the astronomical figure likely played a role. According to multiple reports, Newey's contract is worth around $20 million per season. But given his background, a return to the grid makes perfect sense. As we said earlier this season, returning to the grid next season would give Newey a chance to crack F1's next tough question: the upcoming technical regulations that will come into force in the 2026 season.
Part of the beauty of F1 is that it is as much an engineering problem solved with creativity as it is a race won through pure driver skill, courage and determination. In F1, the sport's rules and regulations are constantly being revised, with some years seeing bigger and bolder changes than others.
The 2026 season could bring the biggest changes in recent history, after the sport's governing body in June approved a radical departure from the current rules put in place for the 2022 season.
The new rules gave Newey a chance to step back at the fabled drawing board, pencil in hand, and begin solving a new mystery.
In his own words, it's the part he loves most about the sport.
“I'm enjoying the regulatory changes,” Newey was quoted as saying. Formula. “Probably the most fun part of my job is figuring out what the regulations mean, what their intent is, and whether or not there is nuance allowed. [us to explore] “New Horizons.”
It's a puzzle Newey has successfully solved on multiple occasions, with the RB5 and RB18 being perhaps two of the best examples.
But why Aston Martin? The decision hinges on Stroll's vision of building a championship team. By acquiring Alonso, Stroll welcomed a former champion to his team. Breaking ground on the construction of three new factory buildings with modernized wind tunnels, Stroll has modernized all operations. The team announced the completion of “phase two” of that construction with the following post on social media on Monday:
Stroll, with the help of Newey, had the foresight to adapt his company's cars to the times.
“This is without doubt the most exciting news in the history of Aston Martin F1,” Stroll said at the team's live event at the AMR Technology Campus, “with Adrian Newey joining as a shareholder and technical manager of the F1 team.”
“Adrian is probably the best in the world at what he does.”
“Lawrence,” Newey said when asked why he came to Aston Martin.
“I felt I needed a new challenge,” the designer continued. “In fact, Lawrence's passion, dedication and enthusiasm is so appealing. It's so compelling.”
“Lawrence is unique in that he's the only active team owner in this modern era. It feels different when you have someone like Lawrence involved like this.”
“As I said, we have a strong team, some of whom Adrian has already worked with, and he will be the technical managing partner of that team,” Stroll explained when asked how Newey fits into Aston Martin's vision for the future.
“It's not easy to build a brand new factory and make it feel really comfortable, warm, and creative,” Newey says. “I've seen some new buildings that don't quite get that vibe, but this building has a great vibe.”
“I'm really looking forward to getting started.”
Newey also mentioned new regulations.
“On the chassis side, the aerodynamic regulations will be announced on the first or second of January and I join the team two months later so I need to get used to it as quickly as possible,” Newey said. “The 2026 rules are an opportunity. We'll see if we take advantage of it, but I'm not going to dwell too long on it.”
“Adrian is really the key, the biggest piece of the puzzle from a technical point of view,” Stroll said, “and I think that impact will ripple through the whole organization.”
Some may see Newey's move to Aston Martin as a gamble on Alonso. BBC Sports Starting in November 2023, Newey cited not working with Alonso as one of his “regrets” in F1: “Well, first of all, I wish I could have had a longer relationship with Ayrton. [Senna]”Newey said. BBC Sports“Driver-wise, Fernando is one of the drivers I've always had high hopes for. I have a lot of respect for Fernando so it's a shame that it didn't happen.”
Now Newey will have that chance.
But with Alonso nearing the end of his driving career (he acknowledged this summer that he was nearing the end) from Newey's perspective, the move means much more: Alonso is part of the team, but it's also a big bet on Stroll's vision for Aston Martin, from the facilities to the cars themselves.
Going back to the opening episode of season 1 Drive to Survive Stroll continued his speech by saying at the seaside celebration: “I had a vision to create the best performance car company in the world. To compete and win is probably the hardest thing in the world,” Stroll said. “I've run a lot of companies before.
“There's nothing like winning in F1.”
But that's not all Stroll said in the episode. Speaking to Netflix producers ahead of the 2023 season, Stroll added: “We're pretty confident. They're both great drivers,” Stroll said. “We have a strong car and I believe that with my vision, my business sense and my wallet, we can create one of the best F1 teams in the world.”
Newey's decision was a bet that Stroll is right, and today's announcement is Stroll's bet that Newey is the final piece to complete that vision.
