Marko: Newey 'Not Doing Well' Amid Aston Martin's Struggles

Helmut Marko has revealed that legendary designer Adrian Newey is "not doing well" in his role at Aston Martin, as the team grapples with severe technical issues and a dismal start to the season. The comments come amid reports that Newey will step back from his team principal duties to refocus on engineering, while owner Lawrence Stroll seeks to recruit Jonathan Wheatley from Red Bull to lead the team.

Why it matters:

Newey's move to Aston Martin was hailed as a coup that could propel the team to the front of the grid. His apparent struggle and the team's deep-seated problems underscore how far the Silverstone-based squad is from realizing its ambitions. This situation threatens to derail a high-profile project and impacts the career of a figure widely considered one of Formula 1's greatest technical minds.

The Details:

• Newey's Difficult Position: Helmut Marko stated he had contact with Newey and offered a bleak assessment: "He is not doing well. With this project, there are problems that will not be solved so quickly."
• Technical Crisis: The AMR26 car is reportedly plagued by severe vibrations from Honda's new power unit, preventing drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll from completing a full race distance and leaving the team lagging behind the midfield.
• Leadership Shuffle: In response to the crisis, Adrian Newey is expected to relinquish his team principal duties, a role he took on last year, to concentrate solely on technical development.
• Search for a New Boss: Team owner Lawrence Stroll has reportedly approached Jonathan Wheatley, Red Bull's long-serving sporting director, to take over as team principal. Wheatley would need to serve a period of gardening leave before starting.

The Big Picture:

While Aston Martin faces internal turmoil, Red Bull—Marko's former team—is also navigating its own challenges with a problematic 2026 car. However, Marko expressed confidence in Red Bull's ability to recover, noting cancelled races provide extra development time. For Aston Martin, the path is less clear. The potential hiring of Wheatley suggests a move to install experienced Red Bull operational DNA, but the fundamental technical issues with the car remain a monumental hurdle.

What's Next:

All eyes are on the impending leadership change at Aston Martin. If Wheatley joins, he will face the immediate task of stabilizing the team operationally while Newey and the technical department race to understand and fix the car's core problems. The team's performance in the upcoming races will be a critical indicator of whether this restructuring can stem the tide and begin a recovery in a season that has started disastrously.