P1 with Matt and Tommy - BREAKING: Adrian Newey to join Aston Martin next year!

Episode Date: September 10, 2024

One of the worst-kept secrets in Formula 1 has finally been confirmed: leading designer Adrian Newey will Aston Martin next year in a £30m-a-year deal!We wonder if this move was inevitable based on his previous work and how this changes the competitive picture across the support. Plus, we assess Lawrence Stroll’s masterplan - which driver is the final piece of the puzzle?  P1 Live is heading to North America this Fall and there are only a few tickets remaining - some locations have sold out. Click here to get your tickets before it's too late!Sign up to our Patreon here! You'll get access to bonus episodes, our classic race series, every P1 episode ad-free and access to our Discord server where you can chat with other F1 fans!Follow us on socials! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, YouTube and TikTok. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello everybody and welcome back. It's the B1 podcast, Emergency Edition. I hope you are seated or standing or in the gym or wherever you might be listening to this B1 podcast because, well, it's an emergency but not really an emergency, is it, Tommy? It's been one of the worst kept secrets since Kimmy Antonelli to Mercedes. Adrian Newey going to Aston Martin. And we've got a lot of thoughts to share on this one

and how it might affect the whole atmosphere, nether sphere, Landscape. Formula One. Yeah, or landscape. That would have been a much better word. Yeah. Yes, it was the worst kept secret. It feels like it's our 50th emergency podcast of the year.

Like, what a ridiculous season. I've never seen so many breaking news Formula One graphics and ones that are actually like massive. And yes, finally we know where Mr. Newe is going after all that speculation at the start after him leaving Red Bull. And that speculation was, of course, all points. towards one team originally, Ferrari, because, I mean, the stars seemed to align in some ways. Adrian Newey always wanted to work with Ferrari, always wanted to work with Lewis Hamilton. Lewis Hamilton signs to Ferrari. It's happening. Ferrari will win the next 20 championships. However, that did not transpire as much as it all seemed to make sense.

And he's, in fact, joining Aston Martin next year on a long-term deal, however long that might be. I mean, the man's how old, like in his 60s, isn't he? Yeah. A reported 30 million quid a year, which obviously then you throw on bonuses and add-ons. And basically, if he just goes to Lawrence Stroll, I actually, I need a bit more than 30-mill. I've bought a yacht. I need another yacht. Lawrence Stroll, I'd be like, here you go, mate, another blank check for you.

Because that is seemingly what Aston Martin have done. They've gone, what do you want? Anything is fine. Yeah, indeed. Yeah, it's funny that the now famous quote is, of course, Adrian Newee when he was at Red Bull and looking like he'd never leave Red Bull, saying the biggest regrets in his career is not working with Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari or Fernando Alonzo, which basically confirms to me that Fernando Alonzo is the greatest of all time because he is bigger than Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton combined. So that's my biggest takeaway from this story. I mean, I like the fact you've done that and had it been the other way around. It was he would always want to work with Charles LeClares as a quote.

I would have flown through that door. Not the fact that he's a reasonably, he's an aging man and he doesn't want to move to Italy. That's probably more the logistical reason. But Fernando Alonzo clearly, you know, second in that list of reasons to go. But of course, Adrian Newe has had ties with Aston Martin before, right? He's been involved in their Valkyrie program, if I'm not mistaken. Indeed, yeah. He's, so he's dipped his toes.

They were with Aston Martin, weren't they? Of course. Sorry, they were with Red Bull when he was there. Aston Martin sponsoring them. They were as a title sponsor. Yeah, even though they didn't supply anything but a logo to the car. Here's a logo, everyone. And yes, Adrian Newey made sure that logo was as thin as possible for great aerodynamics.

So he has worked with them to a point before. And of course, as well, with the road car, the Valkyrie that, he's worked on. So there is kind of return on that sense. First question comes in from P1 Patreon member Art Ludens. Why did he sign for Aston Martin? Okay, let's break it down in an easy, digestible manner. Because of course, you'd imagine every single team on the grid would want Adrian Newey, but the short list was probably Aston Martin versus Ferrari. Why would he sign for Aston Martin? A lot of money. Based in the UK, They have fantastic road cars, and I'm sure he wants a Valkyrie himself, if not he already hasn't.

It doesn't have one. Alonzo does, but maybe Adrian wants one as well. He always wanted to work with Fernando Alonso. And, you know, maybe, just maybe, he sees some potential in Lance Strong. Project Lance. This is the final chapter of Project Lance. It's all been building up to this moment. Yes. Why did he sign? I think, of course, you look at it. We were in the same situation. I said it that it did feel like the stars were aligning for him to join Ferrari, the fact that Lewis Hamilton had gone there, the fact that he'd left Red Bull, which we never thought he'd join.

and while you know Ferrari he'd have loved to work with Ferrari I'm sure he will be asked this in an interview later and I'm sure he will say this exact thing I'd love to have worked for Ferrari but it just didn't happen you've got to think while it's easy for us to look at it from a completely Formula One point of view you've got to remember that he is a human being and it is a job and while you know it's going oh look at the weather and amazing stuff in Italy. You've got to think like, you know, he's got a family. He lives in the UK. It's not as, it's not as easy for him as a Formula One driver who spends most of their time on a jet. You know, you've got to think about all his, you know, his family or whatever, like being away from them and things like that. So there is that side to it, a life side of it as well. But there is no doubt that the other things are, Fernando Alonso, the fact that Aston Martin are a historic team, like a historic name, I guess they're not a historic team in Formula One. But I think the fact that, yeah, you've got to think that he's gone there.

Of course, Lawrence Stroll's checkbook is a massive one as well. There's no doubt about that. but if you look at the teams in the UK and if that was very much a deal breaker for him that he wanted to stay in the UK and keep his kind of family life in the UK he's worked with Red Bull he's worked with McLaren he's worked with Williams

so the next kind of logical thing would be for a new challenge would be Aster Martin he's just ticking them all off isn't he he's getting them all next question P1 Patreon member Tony Soprano how soon could we really realistically expect Newey to have Aston Martin challenging at the front of the grid. Now, this isn't going to be an overnight joby.

He's not just going to walk in and everything will become better. That's not how any of this works. Of course, 2026 will be the first time we will see any kind of Adrian Newey influence. But I think even then, that's probably too early to say that it will be an overnight clicking at your fingers. Boom, here we go. don't get me wrong, Adrian Newey has got it right in his side of the role almost every single time in the last however many years. Of course, when Red Bull weren't winning against Mercedes, that was more down to the engine than it was the actual structure of the car,

because it was always very good aerodynamically. Is it a coincidence that Red Bull have seemed to fall apart immediately after he's walked away? I think slightly, for sure. There are many factors as to why Red Ball have started to not work. But for me, the big thing here is that Aston Martin now become, and this is the first time I would say this has happened, one of the most sought-after teams on the grid for drivers now as well. Of course, you've got Alonzo and Stroll, who you've got an Alonzo. Who's 43?

Is that 43? 43, I think he is. 42, 43, you need to unmute if you want to confirm to me one way or another. That'd be great. If you just unmute and let me know. your goat as to, can you find the unmute button? Let me know. I don't know off the top of my head.

You don't know the age of your goat. He is 43. He's 43 years old. And aging Fernando Alonzo and Lance Stroll who, well, he's going to be there forever, Project Stroll. And will we see Lance Stroll champion of the world? Let's see. But Aston Martin should, in theory, move forward with,

the greatest designer of all time joining their team. So I wouldn't say it's too far-fetched to say from 26, maybe 27, 28 when teams start to get used to the regulations, because this isn't as if we're going, it's not a small overhaul, is it? It's a massive one. So not to say that Adrian will get it right, but he usually does. I think one of the key things here is that you always want Adrian Newee for a regulation change. So that is the positive side to it. Like you say, it's, he's not going to do anything next year,

but you think you will have an influence on 2026. But one of the interesting things about this new regulation change. And I don't want to downplay Adrian Newey's ability, because that would be stupid. But Adrian Newee

is an aerodynamicist and we're going into an engine formula. And, you know, famously, he got McLaren to where they were Williams and then he moved to Red Bull he got them winning with Sebastian Vettel

four championships in a row and then it switched to an engine formula and Mercedes were the best and Red Bull weren't really anywhere and weren't winning and it kind of all felt like it went wrong even when we changed again to the wider cars in 2017

I think it was everyone was kind of like, oh, this is surely where Red Bull are going to be good. And it was still Mercedes. It was only when the regulations switched again in 2022 that we've seen this domination from Red Bull again that was an aero formula, not. So from that side of it, I think it is actually going to be a lot more of a challenge for Aston Martin because it is not, the regulations are kind of less. in favour of Newy. I think he'll still do an incredible job and no doubt he'll push Aston Martin

up the grid and like you say, he'll, Astin Martin will have that pull now of being a top team even if they aren't there now. There'll be other drivers now looking at that as a genuine option in the future because it's like, well, we've got to remember that Aston Martin were for Sundio and Racing Point not that long ago. We went, didn't we four or five years ago, I think pre-COVID? And you always went to that team and went, how on earth are they doing as well as they did? Because their facilities were poor, really. And, you know, they didn't have anywhere near the money.

Lawrence Straw is pumping it in now, but it takes time. So, yeah, it's going to be, it's not going to be an instant like, Aston Martin have Newey now. They're going to win the World Championship next year. Let's move on to the next question from P1 Patreon member Justin F194. Will Alonzo retire now? Now? I think

I think it's more Will he retire now as in like maybe he was probably thinking I'm going to retire soon whereas now is he going to say no actually I'm going to go till I'm 60

Oh I see So it's more of a Okay all right That's a hard to get that tone From that particular sentence That was my understanding of it Okay well In that sense

No Alonzo will go forever now There is no doubt in my mind. He's finally got it. He will, this was the one thing, I think, keeping him going at this stage. Maybe Lawrence Stroll going, we're going to go sign the best designer of all time. And he's like, yeah, but when? And then they've done it, right? So for Fernando, he's going through this pain now. Aston, I've no idea what they're doing with their car. One minute, they're on the edges of Formula A. Then they're in the middle of Formula B. But this pain will all be worth it come 2026, when Alonso is 45 years old and winning the world.

championship. This is... Don't stop that. But this is what Fernando is holding on for. There's no way he is going to sign for any less than past 26, as long as Ashton will have him, have him, and I'm sure they will. Because I think in a weird way as well, Lawrence Stroll, it's kind of a good situation for him to have, right?

He's got Fernando Alonzo, who is one of the best drivers to ever grace the sport. But he is getting older. Science will be going against him as we continue the season. It doesn't matter how incredible you are, science kicks in. So if Alonso gets slightly worse every single year from here on in, Lance Stroll could, in fact, I mean, it had to be a serious decline for Fernando Alonzo. But if it did, and then Aston created the greatest car on the grid

by half a second a lap, we're seeing Lance Stroll World Champion and beats Fernando Alonzo in the same car. And Lawrence Stroll... A 60-year-old Fernando Alonso. And Lawrence Strzgo goes, a win's a win. Okay, so that's how I see it. Yeah, it's funny, it's funny you say that because maybe, I'll save this debate, actually, for the next question. But will Alonzo retire now?

Yeah, he's going to hold on now for as long as he can because you've got to think 2012. He famously was kind of outspoken. He's a bit of a S-Hauser anyway, isn't he? says these things and he respects Vettel a lot now but at the time you wanted to get in his head and mind games and he would quite often kind of make

a make kind of digs that it's like I'm racing Adrian Nui and I've got to take this S-box Ferrari and try and win and beat this Nui rocket ship with Vettel and now he's finally got Adrian Nui in his team but my God

like my first thoughts on this was like why is Alonzo 43 and not 33 because and I bet he is thinking the very same thing you can talk all you want about him burning bridges and and if it's self-inflicted but why now like why is alonzo finally potentially could get this car when I think he's been on unbelievable form even when he was you know the kind of finishing fifth or six in a Ferrari and you might go oh well you wasn't all that like in my opinion he was the best drive in Formula 1 then.

So it's kind of like he will hang on, but like you say, time will catch up with him. And that is quite a sad thought. I just love him. I just want him to get a win. Like, please just get that 30 third win. That's what I want to see.

Even if he has to climb out his car with a Zimmer frame. And Lance Stroll, fine. Have the World Championship. If 60-year-old Fernando Alonzo gets a win, I'm happy. Alonzo be getting up the car like Hamilton that climbing back in when it was so bumpy.

Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Poor old Fernando. But he will absolutely hold on until the last second, especially if there is a glimmer of hope of a world championship winning car. You know how when Vastappen joined Formula One, they had to put an age limit. They're going to have to put an age limit for Fernando onto the upper class.

No one over the age of 50. Right, next question. P1 Patreon member Lomixion comes in with how long before we get rumours that Vestappen will join Aston Martin. I don't see it. I think Lawrence Stroll, he's playing all kinds of puppet games here. Lawrence Stroll does not want Max Verstappen to come alongside Lance Stroll in his team. There is no way. I can't see it because this is Project Stroll. The whole reason for Aston Martin existing at this point is Lawrence Stroll putting his son in as best position as possible. not like, so it completely,

you're not going to stick a Latifie or a sergeant next to him, because that gives Lance Strull no credibility if he beats his teammate. He's putting in selectively Fernando Alonzo, who's 43 years old in there. Sebastian Vettel when he was like maybe arguably not anywhere near what he used to be as well. Yeah, Vettel, sadly, wasn't anywhere near his prime when he was alongside Lance Stroll. So no, I can't see this personally. as long as Lawrence Stroll's in charge, nah. It makes perfect sense

if you take Lance Stroll completely out of the equation that Adrian Newe is joining that team. There'll be a huge bull. Of course, they're going to Honda as well. So essentially, all this conflict at Red Bull that you've had, other than kind of Jonathan Wheatley joining as well, if Fassappan went there,

you kind of got everything from, Red Bull and they've just gone, let's stick it to Aston Martin and we'll have it. Thank you very much. And if a Stappan did join, because he's got that relationship with Honda, with Nui, you know he can over-deliver with a car. So even if Aston Martin were there or thereabouts, we're seeing it now this year, the fact that his championship lead is somehow not eroding as much as it should be for for the position that he's in. But the reality is Lance Stroll does exist. And it's a very good point.

And that's what I kind of alluded to that I was saving for this next question. Because what is the end game for Lawrence Stroll here? Is this? Because we've seen what he's done. He joined Williams. He was all right. Okay.

They weren't a great team. Racing Point. Oh, I'll buy them. Thank you very much. Aster Martin, invest in them, like, let's make this super team. He's essentially, like, keeping his son in Formula One, build it, like buying his way up in the performance, like a Formula One game where you're literally like adding R&D and using all your bonuses to, you know,

make everything better. But the reality is that Lance Stroll will not beat Max this happen in the same car unless there's some serious sabotage going on here. So what is the end game? he puts Verstappen in the car, Lance Stroll would not be well champion. He just won't be. So is it that this Adrian Newey signing

is the penultimate piece of the puzzle and then the final piece of the puzzle is to put Nicholas Latifio or Logan Sarjan in the other car and he can just cruise his way to an easy world title? I don't know. It just depends. Surely Lawrence Stroll, right? He has all the money in the world.

The only reason he's doing all of this is to etch the stroll name in sporting Formula One history. But do you think you'll be happy with him just winning races or is it championship or nothing? I think it's championship. What do you think? Race winner obviously is a... The championship has to be the end goal.

Because it's a funny way of him... There is... I think I'm more inclined than you are that Vastappan could genuinely go there because... Alongside Stroll. alongside Stroll because I don't think that it is necessarily like a because if that was the case, why have they got Vettel? Why have they got Alonzo?

Well, we've just spoken about that. Yeah, but he's not beating them, is he? No, but he's not been, he wasn't trounced by Vettel consistently. Alonzo, yeah, right now, Project Alonzo is still beating him. But then, I don't know, I feel like that, because obviously having Vettel or Alonzo in the team is going to push the team forward. That's in his head, right? It's not like they're going to turn that team

into a championship winning team immediately. So there is a benefit. Because we've seen Alonzo almost like mentoring Lance and being very respectful and tutoring him almost. Yeah, this is like a really expensive piano teacher that he just keeps putting in next to Lance Stroll

to teach him everything about Formula One. But yeah, they have to get a much weaker driver in as his teammate. Maybe we're about to see Lance Stroll as a hybrid of Vettel Alonzo and then Vestappen when he joins as well. And Lance Stroll, when he's about 30-odd years old, will be the greatest driver of all time. Here's the thing, Vestappen says he's not going to go forever.

So maybe he does just go in, develop the car, show it can win the World Championship, and then Vestappen goes, right, right, I've won some more titles. I'm going to go play iRacing now, get Latifian, let's get Lance's World title. Yeah, exactly. that's not risking anyone's life

we have gone down the rabbit hole with this one it is a very interesting and he will never admit what what Lawrence Stroll is doing because essentially like what Lawrence Stroll is doing in Formula One

is playing a real life version of F1 manager where he's created his son as a driver with an unlimited budget and that is exactly what he has doing. Maybe Micahacken will come in next. A little bit more of a veteran thought. Finally come back from the sabbatical.

Yeah, they're like, Fettel not old enough. Alonzo not old enough. I need older. I need older. I need older and more frail. Yeah, we need highly decorated champions to come in, but we need older. Okay, final question. P1, Patreon member Dennis.

Will Nui get frustrated and maybe even leave early if Lance Stroll costs them the Constructors' Championship? 30 million he says no. Yeah, 30 million says no. And also leave early, I don't know. I think that as long as he's still enjoying his side of the job, he knows what he's signing up to right now. He's not expecting Lance Stroll to become any better than he currently is.

So it's not going to be a complete surprise to him if he makes this incredible car. And Lance Stroll cost him the constructors like, I'm sure if Adrian Nui is, he's a very clever man, I'm sure within his contract, it goes, so my bonuses won't be affected by Lance Stroll's points in the coming year. is correct okay perfect yeah but I don't think he'll get frustrated he's doing what he loves he's 65 years old he can hang it up whenever he wants like he's just he does just love designing cars and this is what he's going to do and he loves designing cars that's like what you say I know this goes right back to the first question but he's designed the Valky maybe wants to do something else

they're going to Le Bonn as well which is something that he loves to to do so he's got so many more options at Aston Martin as a road manufacturer as a team that's does Le Mans as well. He is a motorsport kind of, you know, he's a petrol head through and through. So he's going to have all those options as well. So Lance Stroud costing them Constructors title. If Lance Strull costs them the constructors title, that kind of alludes to the fact that they've won the driver's title.

So I'm sure he'd be very happy about that because it's another, it's another Adrian Newey World Championship regardless of who the driver is. And he can add that to however many he's got loads, loads and loads and loads. and, you know, if he does do it, and he can basically be like, ah, I, you know, I joined McLaren, we won everything, I joined Williams, we won everything, I joined Red Bull, we won everything, I joined Austin Martin, even with Lance Roll, we want everything. I mean, let's be real, the guy does not need any more accolades, does he?

No, he doesn't. No, he doesn't. For Bance and for serious cash money, but mainly Bance, I think, because he's not exactly strapped for cash at the moment either. but look a fascinating chat i'd love to hear what everybody else has to think let's know in the comments on the youtube or over on social media it's been yeah quite quite the rabbit hole we've gone down Tommy what are your final thoughts my final thoughts are bring on that 50 year old van alonzo winning the world championship uh can't wait yeah that's good that's gonna hit serious

amounts live on twitch watch along that all yeah shall la Claire i'll be That's Fernando Lonzo. You'll be, that's crazy. Look at you, though. Look at you. You could easily sign for a Formula One team as a junior driver. Anyway, that is it. Thank you, everybody.

And we will see you, well, this weekend. Baku is coming up. Predictions and all that sort of stuff, as you have come to expect, will be with you very soon. So lots of love. See you soon. Bye.

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