Aston Martin has confirmed Jonathan Wheatley will take over as team principal, replacing Adrian Newey after just one season in the role. The British technical guru stepped in from his original position at the start of 2026 to replace Andy Cowell, who had moved aside after a single season himself. This marks the fifth team principal in Aston Martin's five-year Formula 1 journey since 2021.

Newey's brief tenure was dominated by the team's struggles with Honda's new power unit, which failed to complete a single grand prix distance in the new regulatory era. The 65-year-old engineer revealed at the Australian Grand Prix that Aston Martin had only learned about Honda's staff dispersal from its Red Bull partnership in November, leaving the team scrambling with limited resources. His decision to return to a technical role allows him to focus on what he does best.

The revolving door at team principal continues a pattern that began with Otmar Szafnauer in 2021, followed by Mike Krack (2022-2024), Cowell (2025), and now Wheatley. Each appointment reflected different strategic priorities under owner Lawrence Stroll as he tries to build a championship-contending team from Silverstone.