Adrian Newey is set to step down from his team principal role at Aston Martin after just four months in the position.
His departure comes shortly after the role became effective at the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season, marking a notably brief tenure.
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The change will see Newey refocus exclusively on technical responsibilities within the team, as first reported by Autosport.
Aston Martin has endured a difficult start to the 2026 campaign, with the Newey-designed AMR26 unable to complete a full race due to power unit issues linked to its new Honda partnership.
Jonathan Wheatley is expected to replace Newey, with the current Audi team boss preparing for a return to England.
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Wheatley joined Audi last May alongside CEO Mattia Binotto but is now set for a move back after just 10 months, subject to the terms of his contract.
The appointment would reunite Wheatley with a familiar environment, as Aston Martin’s Silverstone campus is located around 20 miles from Red Bull’s Formula 1 headquarters, where he spent two decades.
At Audi, Wheatley reported directly to the board and operated with a degree of autonomy, although his role alongside Binotto limited the freedom typically associated with a team principal.
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His potential move comes at a challenging time for Aston Martin as it navigates early-season reliability issues and performance concerns.
Newey and Wheatley previously worked together for 20 years at Red Bull, and that relationship may have played a role in the proposed leadership change.
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