Coulthard Calls Aston Martin’s Newey Promotion a PR ‘Own Goal’
The criticism spotlights a non‑traditional leadership setup that Lawrence Stroll says makes Newey a partner rather than a classic team boss.
Overview
- Coulthard, speaking on the Up to Speed podcast, called Aston Martin’s move to make Adrian Newey team principal a PR “own goal” that was “never going to work.”
- He argued Newey shines as a designer rather than as a political, media‑facing leader required in a modern Formula 1 team.
- Team owner Lawrence Stroll has emphasized that Aston Martin does not use a traditional team principal model and that Newey holds a partner stake.
- The leadership debate is unfolding as Honda power unit faults persist, with severe engine vibrations hurting Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll on track.
- A rapid turnover of leaders and March’s departure of Audi’s Jonathan Wheatley, who had been linked in paddock talk, have kept succession questions alive.