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Adrian Newey Highlights Past Aston Martin Flaw: 'Drivers Not Listened to Enough'
Adrian Newey, Aston Martin's new recruit, struck a raw nerve by acknowledging that the team failed to sufficiently involve its drivers in car development in the past.
By Nadia van Leeuwen - 2026-07-15T17:03:19.000Z - 1 min read
The arrival of Adrian Newey as top designer at Aston Martin caused quite a stir, but the British engineer is already leaving his direct mark. Showing no hesitation to criticize, he openly highlighted past shortcomings within his new team.
Newey publicly stated that Aston Martin previously failed to involve drivers enough in the development of the car. This admission points to a remarkably critical look at the team's internal processes.
The world-famous designer's comments suggest a shift in approach for the Silverstone-based outfit. It appears that the value of direct input from the cockpit has moved higher up the agenda.
With someone of Newey's caliber on board—renowned for his deep knowledge of both technology and driver feedback—driver involvement is likely to increase. His openness immediately sets clear expectations for Aston Martin's future development paths.