Button admits envy over Alonso and Stroll driving Newey's Aston Martin

Former F1 champion Jenson Button has expressed "jealousy" toward current Aston Martin drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll for getting to pilot a car designed by legendary engineer Adrian Newey. Now an ambassador for the team, Button revealed his desire to experience a Newey-designed machine firsthand, highlighting the unique perspective he's gained since joining the Silverstone-based squad.

Why it matters:

Adrian Newey's cars have defined eras of Formula 1, securing championships for Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull. For a driver of Button's caliber, who competed against but never drove such machinery, this admission underscores the mythical status Newey's designs hold within the paddock. It also reflects the significant allure and high expectations now placed on Aston Martin's project with Newey at the helm.

The details:

• Button, the 2009 world champion, signed as an Aston Martin ambassador earlier this year, reuniting him with former McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso.
• In his first column for the team, he stated, "I’d love to drive one of these new-generation cars, especially one designed by Adrian Newey... I guess you could say I’m a little bit jealous of Lance and Fernando in this respect."
• He specifically hinted at interest in a demonstration run, joking, "But 24 races in a season… I’m too old for that!"
• Button provided a rare glimpse into Newey's enduring, analog working methods, noting, "He’s very old school – notebook in hand, sketching ideas on a drawing board – but that’s part of what makes him such a master."
• He also praised Alonso's unchanged work ethic and character a decade after being his teammate, calling him a "true benchmark."

The big picture:

Button's envy comes as the AMR26, Newey's first car for Aston Martin, endures a troubled start to the season plagued by Honda power unit vibration issues. Despite these early setbacks, Newey reportedly believes the chassis itself is among the top five on the grid, suggesting strong foundational potential once reliability is solved. The team's development progress is now a critical storyline to watch.

What's next:

Aston Martin's immediate focus is on resolving the AMR26's reliability problems to unlock its perceived performance. Concurrently, Adrian Newey is actively seeking a long-term team principal to assume the operational role he currently fills, with former Audi figure Jonathan Wheatley recently becoming a free agent and linked to the position. How quickly the team stabilizes its technical and managerial foundations will be key to determining if Button's jealousy is well-founded by on-track results.

summary: Jenson Button, the 2009 F1 champion and new Aston Martin ambassador, admits he is "jealous" of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll for driving a car designed by Adrian Newey. Having raced against Newey's legendary designs for years, Button expressed a strong desire to experience one himself, offering a unique insider's view of the famed designer's old-school methods and the team's current challenges and potential.