F1 Rumor: Newey deal with Aston Martin includes partial ownership

If rumors are to be believed, not only will Aston Martin pay Adrian Newey $25 million per year in salary, he is also poised to become a shareholder in Aston Martin, as part of a groundbreaking deal to join the Silverstone-based team, according to reports.

The 65-year-old, widely considered to be one of the most brilliant minds in F1, may be set to play a part in Aston Martin’s ambitious push to become championship contenders.

Newey, who has contributed to 13 drivers’ championships and 12 constructors’ titles with Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull since 1991, announced his departure from Red Bull earlier this year because Red Bull could not meet Newey’s salary demands due to the cost cap.

The salary of three people from each F1 team is excluded from the cost cap calculations – that would normally be the two drivers and the Team Boss – for Red Bull that would be Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez and Christian Horner.

To pay Newey $25 million per year would put Red Bull over the cost cap.

How Aston Martin can pay Newey that much without going over the cost cap raises many questions on how they might be hiding costs to circumvent the cost cap.

Although still with the Red Bull team until the end of the season, Newey’s current role involves reduced day-to-day involvement.

Known for his old-school design methods, often sketching concepts with pencil and paper, Newey’s reported move signals a seismic shift in F1’s engineering landscape.

Aston Martin’s executive chairman Lawrence Stroll has been relentless in his pursuit of Newey, believing the designer can transform the team into championship contenders. Stroll will spend unlimited money to try and make his mediocre son Lance World Driving Champion.

Newey’s contract is expected to be finalized this week, with a formal introduction to the media scheduled before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.

Due to contractual obligations, Newey cannot officially announce his move until later this week, and he will serve a period of gardening leave meaning he cannot leave Red Bull until the beginning part of 2025.