Aston Martin has undergone significant evolution, with CEO Andy Cowell detailing how the Silverstone-based team is enhancing its potential through major investments in top-tier personnel and facilities. These changes are aiming to optimize their performance for the F1 2025 season and beyond.
Why it matters
Aston Martin's ambitious overhaul, backed by Lawrence Stroll's heavy investment, aims to transform the team into a consistent front-runner. The return of seasoned F1 figures and state-of-the-art infrastructure are critical steps in realizing this potential and challenging the sport's established top teams.
The big picture
Andy Cowell, former Mercedes High-Performance Powertrains managing director, returned to F1 in late 2024 as Aston Martin's Group CEO. He restructured the team, appointing himself team principal to allow Mike Krack to focus on trackside activities. In March 2025, legendary designer Adrian Newey joined as managing technical partner, initially focusing on the F1 2026 car. Additionally, Enrico Cardile was appointed chief technical officer. This leadership influx is paired with an upgraded factory featuring a new driver simulator and a cutting-edge wind tunnel, aiming to refine every stage of design, production, and testing.
The details
Cowell believes the team has made substantial progress since he took over in late 2024, stating "Everything's better" regarding the optimization of their factory and infrastructure. This includes improvements in:
- CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and lap simulation.
- Driver-in-the-loop simulator and wind tunnel accuracy.
- Data processing for better understanding and decision-making.
- Robust experiment execution at the circuit with Chris Cronin and Mike Krack.
- Clearer responsibilities within the organization, allowing for deeper expertise in each field.
Cowell emphasized the importance of data correlation, a crucial area where even top teams can struggle. Despite a challenging first half of the F1 2025 season with DNFs and a lower Constructors' Championship standing, Cowell is confident in the ongoing improvements in reliability, data understanding, and performance delivery. He highlighted the daily task of optimizing processes without cutting corners, emphasizing improved teamwork and creative problem-solving.
Cowell, reflecting on his own contribution, stressed the focus on clear targets, assessments, and responsibilities across the factory and trackside teams. The goal is to develop robust packages, take precise measurements, and be entirely data-led in engineering decisions. He enjoys the new autonomy and the challenge of leading an F1 team, finding it similar to previous engineering leadership roles but with broader scope. He describes Aston Martin as a "dream team" due to the enthusiasm and shared mission among its members.