Adrian Newey to Ferrari? Is it possible?

[carinaman]

Newey discussed by Joe Saward on the Missed Apex podcast:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w24aOGwxZQ

[Jasandjules]

I really, really hope that EJ is misdirecting that AN will go to AM........... And it will be a pleasant shock it is Ferrari instead......

[anonymous-user]

Very much doubt it. Too many good reasons to go to Aston and I expect Verstappen in there for '26 too.

[Jasandjules]

Forester1965 said:

Very much doubt it. Too many good reasons to go to Aston and I expect Verstappen in there for '26 too.

But one Stroll, I mean reason, not to want to........

[anonymous-user]

Lawrence Stroll won't be a problem. When you've worked for Frank Williams, Ron Dennis and Christian Horner Stroll is probably a pussycat by comparison.

Lance on the other hand...

[Sandpit Steve]

Jasandjules said:

I really, really hope that EJ is misdirecting that AN will go to AM........... And it will be a pleasant shock it is Ferrari instead......

The one thing we know about EJ, is not to trust a single word that passes his lips.

That Joe Saward - who knows everyone in the paddock, and has done for decades - is suggesting it, is potentially more relevant. Some AM media event in London on 12th (next Thursday) apparently.

It could all still be misdirection, and I don’t understand what AM can really offer him in terms of a challenge and a work environment, but we do know the team has been heavily recruiting, and that could yet include Max Verstappen for ‘26 or ‘27.

[anonymous-user]

Sandpit Steve said:

. It could all still be misdirection, and I don’t understand what AM can really offer him in terms of a challenge and a work environment,

They've only a got a brand new state of the art factory and matching wind tunnel about to come online. Half the old Red Bull design staff. The creators of the WDC winning engine in '21, '22 and '23 coming on board for '26 and a whole bucket load of cash from an experienced and high performing entrepreneur and it's on Newey's relative doorstep.

I've no idea how they're going to persuade him to come.

[Muzzer79]

Jasandjules said:

I really, really hope that EJ is misdirecting that AN will go to AM........... And it will be a pleasant shock it is Ferrari instead......

It's a bit surprising.

Mainly for me in a sense of the positives and negatives

Positives

Local to him (UK, he probably wouldn't even move house)
Massive investment - new factory, etc
Honda works supply
Wanted to work with Alonso
Total freedom

Negatives

Alonso surely only has a year or so left?
Isn't the financing of AM still.....precarious?

But the biggest one for me is Stroll Jr. No disrespect to Lance, but I can't see how Newey is taking a team seriously that has the son of the owner there driving when there's clearly better options.

Maybe they've sold the dream to him that it'll only be AM for a year or two and then someone (Honda?) will come in and take over.

[Drew106]

So Newey to Aston in 2025 seems likely....

...AM to have a championship dominating car by 2027, Alonso will have retired in 2026 missing out again (such is his luck). Stroll World Champion 2027

You heard it here first

[paulguitar]

Drew106 said:

So Newey to Aston in 2025 seems likely....

...AM to have a championship dominating car by 2027, Alonso will have retired in 2026 missing out again (such is his luck). Stroll World Champion 2027

You heard it here first

That's the concern, I think. F1 would have a credibility issue if Lance Stroll wins a bunch of races or, (almost unimaginably) the title!

Perhaps Verstappen could go there to join Lance and Lawrence. What a barrel of laughs that will be.

[Muzzer79]

paulguitar said:

F1 would have a credibility issue if Lance Stroll wins a bunch of races or, (almost unimaginably) the title!

I think history shows examples of good drivers winning titles rather than great ones but I can't think of a truly mediocre driver that got as far as a WDC.

And Lance isn't any worse than mediocre. He has talent, his problem is that there's others with more than him.

It depends who they pair him with. If he's with a Verstappen/Norris/Russell/Sainz/Piastri then they would own him anyway so whilst he might win the odd race, he wouldn't get near a title run.

If they put him with a Zhou or a Sargeant to try and steer the title towards him (to be fair to them - highly unlikely given the calibre of people they're recruiting in the technical team) I don't think the team would have the direction or credibility to have a title run.

[paulguitar]

Muzzer79 said:

paulguitar said:

F1 would have a credibility issue if Lance Stroll wins a bunch of races or, (almost unimaginably) the title!

I think history shows examples of good drivers winning titles rather than great ones but I can't think of a truly mediocre driver that got as far as a WDC.

And Lance isn't any worse than mediocre. He has talent, his problem is that there's others with more than him.

It depends who they pair him with. If he's with a Verstappen/Norris/Russell/Sainz/Piastri then they would own him anyway so whilst he might win the odd race, he wouldn't get near a title run.

If they put him with a Zhou or a Sargeant to try and steer the title towards him (to be fair to them - highly unlikely given the calibre of people they're recruiting in the technical team) I don't think the team would have the direction or credibility to have a title run.

Lance is by no means a no-hoper. He has an F1 pole on merit, in the wet, which is very impressive.


I agree though, it seems very unlikely he'd be able to win a title unless he has a colossal car advantage and a poor teammate. It looks like Aston Martin is really taking things seriously in the new regs era. (Aside from employing Lance...).

[Still Mulling]

paulguitar said:

...It looks like Aston Martin is really taking things seriously in the new regs era. (Aside from employing Lance...).

Although the merits of a reasonable #2 driver have been discussed at length in other threads. If they do snag Max, could Lance find the consistency to do a better job than Perez has during the last 2 years?

[732NM]

Still Mulling said:

Although the merits of a reasonable #2 driver have been discussed at length in other threads. If they do snag Max, could Lance find the consistency to do a better job than Perez has during the last 2 years?

That depends on if the cheat devices are on his car.
Lance is good enough for a number 2 given a good car.

[miniman]

I don’t have a particular issue with Lance’s ability (although it’s clearly variable at best) it’s his attitude, demeanour and Verstappen-level sense of entitlement that makes him utterly dislikable for me.

[paulguitar]

miniman said:

I don’t have a particular issue with Lance’s ability (although it’s clearly variable at best) it’s his attitude, demeanour and Verstappen-level sense of entitlement that makes him utterly dislikable for me.

Yes, he does come across as being moody and generally a bit of a a berk.

[Muzzer79]

Still Mulling said:

paulguitar said:

...It looks like Aston Martin is really taking things seriously in the new regs era. (Aside from employing Lance...).

Although the merits of a reasonable #2 driver have been discussed at length in other threads. If they do snag Max, could Lance find the consistency to do a better job than Perez has during the last 2 years?

Let's remember than Aston Martin had a podium-fast car at the start of last year.

Alonso duly got it on the podium in 6 out of the first 8 races, including two second places.

Lance could only get it up to 4th once, in Australia. Also his best result of the whole year.

I'm not sure that he'd be dropping out in Q1 and binning it regularly like Sergio, although the pressure of a title-winning car may make him push his limits like Perez has done and see him have a similar results-run.

[vaud]

Muzzer79 said:

It's a bit surprising.

Mainly for me in a sense of the positives and negatives

Positives

Local to him (UK, he probably wouldn't even move house)
Massive investment - new factory, etc
Honda works supply
Wanted to work with Alonso
Total freedom

Negatives

Alonso surely only has a year or so left?
Isn't the financing of AM still.....precarious?

But the biggest one for me is Stroll Jr. No disrespect to Lance, but I can't see how Newey is taking a team seriously that has the son of the owner there driving when there's clearly better options.

Maybe they've sold the dream to him that it'll only be AM for a year or two and then someone (Honda?) will come in and take over.

Missed Apex (Joe S) was clear that Newey is in demand, but not on the terms he has set - leaving only AM as the option.

Though it is EJ negotiating, not Newey.

[g4ry13]

miniman said:

I don’t have a particular issue with Lance’s ability (although it’s clearly variable at best) it’s his attitude, demeanour and Verstappen-level sense of entitlement that makes him utterly dislikable for me.

It's always going to be a tough ask to win people over when your Daddy's a billionaire who acquired an F1 team so you could play with the big boys and have 100% job security.

[williamp]

I think Lance is an OK driver. If you took away the fact his Dad owns the team, I think he'd still have a seat in F1 somewhere. Not at the sharp end, but a decent enough driver who doesn't bin it too often

...But his Dad does own the team. So is Newey does go to Aston for 2025, we'll probably be told that Lance has started to design the car too..

Or... OR....

Newey/ Stroll win the contract to design the next gen Indycars, based around an Aston martin chassis, and Lance jumps to Indycar. You heard it hear first, as they say...