Verstappen backs Newey to impress as Aston Martin F1 team boss

Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen backs former Red Bull designer Adrian Newey to "do well" on his first-ever appointment as a team principal at Aston Martin.

Following the latest reshuffle at Aston Martin, design legend Newey will take on the team principal role alongside his position as managing technical partner, owner Lawrence Stroll's right-hand man to lead the ambitious Silverstone outfit.

Newey takes over from Andy Cowell, who will move to the chief strategy officer role tasked with managing the integration of the team and its Honda, Aramco and Valvoline partners on the power unit side.

Verstappen, who worked with Newey at Red Bull until the latter officially left early this year, was inevitably asked about the change and backed his former Red Bull ally to do well in his new role.

"It's probably something that you see in more teams, right? That someone more technical is taking on the role of team boss. And I guess Aston is going the same way. I mean you have to ask them, of course, why they opted to do it. But that's my logical explanation behind that.

"I'm happy to see that. I don't know how much that will change in the involvement of the car for Adrian. But I'm sure he will do well."

Photo by: Aston Martin

When asked if he was surprised Newey moved to a team boss role for the first time in his long career, taking on even more responsibilities than his usual remit as a chief designer, the Dutchman replied: "I've never spoken to Adrian about it. It was never an option at Red Bull of course as well so I don't know what the ambition was or whatever - but I'm happy for him.

"He's in a different team environment now and I cannot look into the team why or how or the reason why he got promoted. But I'm just sitting here and enjoying it.

"Happy for him and I hope that the team will benefit of his knowledge at the end of the day."

"The unlimited search for performance"

Aston Martin veteran Fernando Alonso said he was excited about Newey bringing "the unlimited search for performance and perfection" to the role.

“I think with Adrian, there is only one style, which is performance,” said Alonso, when asked about what his leadership style will be.

“There is no other word. There is just the unlimited search for performance and perfection. Great competitor, great leader.

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 Team

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images via Getty Images

“So, I think the whole team, which is not that we are not into the performance direction now, but I think with Adrian, it will be even more extreme. 

“A lot of our employees are new to the sport, are young, energetic people that need the guidance of Adrian, or these great leaders - we have to teach them what is the way to succeed in Formula 1.

“We have the two most successful individuals ever in the sport, Andy Cowell and Adrian Newey.”