F1 design great Newey joins Aston Martin

Adrian Newey has designed championship-winning cars for Williams, McLaren and Red Bull

Adrian Newey says he has joined Aston Martin to help lead them to the Formula 1 World Championship.

The 65-year-old designer's new contract, with the title of managing technical partner, was announced on Tuesday at the team's F1 base at Silverstone.

Newey, regarded as the greatest F1 designer in history, has also become an Aston Martin shareholder.

The team did not initially reveal the length of the deal, but BBC Sport has been told it is a five-year contract worth up to a possible £30m a year, including bonuses and add-ons.

That figure, barring Dutchman Max Verstappen and the British pair of Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris, is believed to be more than all the drivers are earning.

And according to business magazine Forbes, Newey would only be behind Anthony Joshua, Rory McIlroy and Tyson Fury in terms of other British sporting figures.

Newey said he was "hugely inspired and impressed by the passion and commitment" of team owner Lawrence Stroll.

The Canadian billionaire has already invested hundreds of millions in a new factory, including a state-of-the-art wind tunnel, and secured a factory engine partnership with Honda from 2026.

The Japanese company have supplied Red Bull, the current world champions, since 2019.

Aston Martin also have two-time world champion Fernando Alonso under contract until the end of 2026. The team's other driver is Stroll's son Lance.

Stroll described Newey's arrival as "a huge day, the most exciting day in the team's history".

Alonso said: "It's an incredible day for the team. Lawrence's vision is taking shape with this building, Honda, Adrian - this is definitely the team of the future and for me it is going to be an incredible opportunity professionally to work with Adrian."

'Fresh challenge' for Newey

Newey, regarded as the greatest F1 car designer in history, said Lawrence Stroll "is determined to create a world-beating team".

"He is the only majority team owner who is actively engaged in the sport," he added.

"His commitment is demonstrated in the development of the new AMR Technology Campus and wind tunnel at Silverstone, which are not only state of the art but have a layout that creates a great environment to work in.

"They have all the key pieces of infrastructure needed to make Aston Martin a world championship-winning team and I am very much looking forward to helping reach that goal."

Newey will start work for Aston Martin from early March next year and he said he would be full time, which is a contrast to his previous role at Red Bull who said he was spending about half his time on F1.

Newey said: "Once I start I will be fully in. I need to be, I have to be.

"This is something different. It is that fresh challenge, new stimulation, and so I always do what I feel is needed for the best of the team."

He will join forces with a team of engineers in which Stroll has already invested heavily.

The team's technical director is Dan Fallows, an aerodynamicist who worked under Newey at Red Bull from 2006-2021.

Former Mercedes engine chief Andy Cowell, who masterminded the building of the standard-setting engine in F1's hybrid era, joins as chief executive officer on 1 October.

And former Ferrari chassis technical director Enrico Cardile will start as chief technical officer at an unspecified date in 2025.

Stroll said Newey would be "the leader" and that signing him was "the biggest part of the puzzle from the technical leadership point of view".

He added: "He will be leading the team and that will have a trickle-down effect through the whole organisation."