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Who is Andy Cowell, Aston Martin's new team principal?
- Sandy van Wijngaarden
Andy Cowell has become Aston Martin's new team principal with immediate effect. In doing so, he takes over from the Luxembourgish Mike Krack. But who exactly is the Briton, who also remains the team's CEO as well?
Andy Cowell was born on 12 February 1969 in the United Kingdom, where he studied mechanical engineering. His Formula 1 career began with designing engines for Cosworth.
In 1999, the Briton was responsible for providing the engine for Stewart Grand Prix, and at the Nürburgring, now FIA steward Johnny Herbert crossed the finish line in first place. In 2000, Cowell worked at BMW Motorsport where he designed the 2001 BMW-Williams engine. With that engine, Ralf Schumacher won three times, while Juan Pablo Montoya also scored his first victory in the competition.
Cowell key figure in Mercedes engines' success
In 2001, Cowell returned to Cosworth as Principal Engineer to design and develop F1 engines. Since 2004, he began working for Mercedes. First as Principal Engineering for the FQ V10 engine project. Cowell then worked as Chief Engineer on Ilmor's V8 engine project.
From July 2008 to January 2013, Cowell served as Engineering Director responsible for all Mercedes' engine projects. In January 2013, Cowell became the Managing Director of the Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains. Here, the Briton was responsible for the team's championship-winning engine from 2014 until 2020, as Lewis Hamilton won six drivers' titles, Nico Rosberg won one, and Mercedes were undefeated in the constructors'.
Cowell remained at Mercedes until June 2020. On 1 October 2024, Cowell became CEO of Aston Martin. From 10 January 2025, he became the team principal of the Silverstone-based squad as well.
This article was written in collaboration with Kada Sárközi
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