KRACK: “ASTON MARTIN IS NO LONGER A WEAK TEAM WITH NEWEY’S SIGNATURE”
Adrian Newey’s arrival at Aston Martin in March 2025 requires the team to be “flexible” in its approach toward 2026.
Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack believes that Adrian Newey’s signing adds “credibility” to the grand plans CEO Lawrence Stroll has announced since taking over the team’s management. According to Krack, Newey’s signing for 2025 will inspire the team’s engineering talent, especially the younger ones, and means that the Silverstone-based team can no longer be seen as a “weak team” compared to previous seasons.
The Luxembourgish team principal said Newey’s introduction at the factory went very well and made him very happy, and he hopes the Briton’s signature will create even greater morale within the team. He also mentioned that Newey’s signing will make the team more attractive to sponsors, partners, and potential future racing drivers.
Krack said, “I’m still smiling, can you see me smiling? It was very hard to stop smiling.”
“I think it’s great news for us as a team. The excitement is enormous.”
“When the news broke, it was a very poorly kept secret at the end of the day, but when it was communicated within the company, it was incredible to see 800 people cheering.”
“Then when Adrian came onto the stage, there was even more excitement, it was really, really beautiful.”
“I think it will make a difference for everyone, starting with the staff. When you manage to bring in someone like Adrian Newey, it’s proof above all that the project is credible; it shows that Lawrence’s entire vision is not just talk but something that can truly be implemented.”
“This is no longer a small team like in the past. It’s now a team that can be confident. At the same time, you approach sponsors differently. The same goes for racing drivers. So, I think this will open many doors in the future.”
Newey will be ready to join Aston Martin in March 2025, and by that time, the team will have already begun laying the groundwork for the 2026 concept when the new regulations are published at the beginning of January. Since Newey will still be under contract with Red Bull until then, Aston Martin won’t be able to start shaping its direction according to the new regulations with his input until he joins. This means the team will have to begin its initial designs without his influence.
However, Krack said that the design process would be flexible enough to accommodate Newey’s design ideas once he joins.
“To be honest, there will still be enough time. Obviously, you shouldn’t start aerodynamic work before January 1st, and changes to the package and things like that will still be possible.”
“I think the basic package, where the engine and gearbox are located, is clear, and then it’s a matter of fine-tuning. But we must also remember that the regulations are quite restrictive in some areas, so you don’t have as much freedom in some places as you might like.”
“So, it’s up to us to adapt and fine-tune. We need to be prepared to slightly adjust the project plan to accommodate new ideas, think outside the box, or consider some suggestions that come from a different perspective,” he explained.
