Adrian Newey: Eddie Jordan ‘not prepared’ to discuss F1 designer’s future

Adrian Newey’s manager Eddie Jordan has refused to discuss reports that the Formula 1 design legend is to join the Aston Martin team next year.

Jordan, who in April negotiated an early exit for Newey from his contract as Red Bull chief technical officer, told BBC Sport: “I am not prepared to answer – I will not be forthcoming in any shape or form.”

Aston Martin have scheduled a news conference for 10 September, where Newey’s recruitment is expected to be announced.

Team owner Lawrence Stroll said in an interview with Bloomberg on Tuesday: “Adrian and I have been talking not only for months but actually for years.

“Adrian is clearly the most talented and gifted individual in F1 based on his track record and history.

“So I’d be very excited for Adrian to join our team, as I think every other F1 team on the grid would feel exactly the same.”

Asked if Newey would join Aston Martin, Stroll said: “I certainly hope so.”

An Aston Martin spokesperson said: “Adrian has been linked to many teams and would be an asset to any team, but we don’t have anything to announce.”

Newey, 65, is regarded as the greatest F1 designer in history, and has been part of 12 drivers’ championships and 13 constructors’ titles for Williams, McLaren and Red Bull since 1991.

Aston Martin moved into a new factory last year and a new wind tunnel on the site at Silverstone is about to come on stream. Newey was given secret tour of the site in the summer.

The team have been on a recruitment drive in recent times aimed at turning them into world championship contenders.

In July, they announced that former Mercedes engine chief Andy Cowell would join in October as their new chief executive officer, replacing Martin Whitmarsh, the former McLaren team principal who has been performing the role since 2021.

Aston Martin have also signed former Ferrari chassis technical director Enrico Cardile as chief technical officer.

Aston Martin’s technical director Dan Fallows, who joined the team in April 2022, is a former colleague of Newey at Red Bull, where Fallows was head of aerodynamics before taking on his current role.

Aston Martin are starting a new partnership in 2026 with engine manufacturer Honda, which has supplied Red Bull since 2019.

The team are fifth in the constructors’ championship this year. After leaping to the front in the first half of the 2023 season, when Fernando Alonso secured a series of podium finishes, they have slipped backwards in the past 12 months and are struggling to qualify and finish in the top 10.

In April, Jordan negotiated for Newey an early exit from his contract as Red Bull chief technical officer which allows him to start work for another team from March next year.

Newey has talked to Ferrari, McLaren, Alpine and Williams as well as Aston Martin since his decision to leave Red Bull was announced in May.

Talks with Ferrari evaporated quickly and McLaren pulled out of the race in the summer. Alpine executive adviser Flavio Briatore made a late bid for Newey, according to sources, but Aston Martin are said to be the only option he is still considering.

Newey decided to leave Red Bull in the wake of the allegations of sexual harassment and coercive, controlling behaviour made against team principal Christian Horner by a female employee.

Horner has always denied the allegations and two separate internal Red Bull inquiries have dismissed the complaint.

Newly had also grown frustrated with tensions within the Red Bull team as to who deserved credit for their domination of the sport in 2022 and 2023.

His contract, which expired at the end of 2025, would have prevented him from joining another team until 2027.

But Jordan and Newey secured an agreement that freed him up in time to start work for another team in time to have a signifiant impact on their design for the new regulations that are coming into force in 2026.

Moving to Aston Martin would give Newey the chance finally to join forces with two-time champion Fernando Alonso, who he told BBC Sport in an interview last November was the one driver with whom he would most like to have worked.

He said: “That’s a regret that that never happened because I have a tremendous respect for Fernando.”

Alonso, 43, this year signed a new contract with Aston Martin that will keep him at the team at least until the end of 2026.