Newey steps back
Adrian Newey is reportedly stepping back from his principal role at Aston Martin, a move that feeds speculation about deeper Red Bull‑era links reshaping Aston’s leadership (gpfans.com). Insiders say the change comes amid a wider management shuffle tied to recent moves between Audi and Aston Martin (gpfans.com).
Audi confirmed Jonathan Wheatley has left the manufacturer “with immediate effect,” citing “personal reasons” in a statement issued March 20, 2026. Motorsport and Autosport published reports on March 19–20 saying Newey would transition off trackside leadership to concentrate on technical work while Wheatley is the leading external candidate to take team-boss duties. Aston Martin issued a public response on March 20 denying the most extreme versions of the story and describing media accounts as “rumours,” while stopping short of confirming any external appointment. Newey joined Aston Martin as Managing Technical Partner on March 1, 2025 and was formally named team principal in Aston Martin’s 26 November 2025 restructuring for the 2026 campaign. Wheatley, 58, spent the bulk of his career at Red Bull before joining the Sauber/Audi project last April and is widely credited with operational and sporting leadership across his roles. Multiple outlets have reported the move as effectively clearing the way for Wheatley to move to Aston Martin, but as of March 20, 2026 there has been no formal confirmation from Aston Martin announcing Wheatley’s appointment. Newey’s original deal with Aston Martin was reported to include a reported base of about £20m a year rising toward £30m with bonuses, a figure widely cited when he joined in 2025.
