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Alonso proud of Newey signing: 'Everyone is performing at a higher level'
After Lewis Hamilton's move from Mercedes to Ferrari, it was perhaps the most talked about switch in Formula 1 recently: Adrian Newey swapped Red Bull Racing 's team for Aston Martin. Meanwhile, his first two weeks at Silverstone have since passed. What impression has the design guru left on Fernando Alonso and the rest of the team so far?
With sunglasses and all, Alonso slides into his team's reception area for a chat with the media present in Melbourne, including GPblog. It would not be surprising if the Aston Martin driver is somewhat jet-lagged, something several drivers say when asked. His answers, however, do not show it: he answers every question at length and does not step down before he completes his time - punctually tracked by the PR lady.
Alonso: 'We are all very proud and happy about Newey's arrival'
At Silverstone, people were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the technical leader. Alonso too did not hide his opinion when GPblog asked him if he had had the chance to work with Newey in his first two weeks with the team. "I was not in the factory, so I only know from from Andy's feedback and some of the engineers, that they had some some meetings already with him," begins the 43-year-old Spaniard
"I'm looking forward to to go back to Europe after these first races and see firsthand his views and work in the team. I think he's at the stage now of knowing a little bit the people, the project and the facilities. So, early days, but I think we are all very, very proud and happy," he added.
Alonso hopes to soon engage in talks with Newey, who has contributed to a total of 26 world titles in F1. "Hopefully, this weekend or Monday after the race," says Alonso. "He will be curious probably to see also what we think about the car and the performance, the weaknesses, and all that. So I don't know if he will be listening to the meetings or no, in the room in the factory, but I think his passion and dedication will be a boost for everybody and, leading by example. So, I think everyone will raise the level thanks to him," concluded the two-time world champion.
Newey to work with brand new wind tunnel
The 66-year-old Briton, who achieved his greatest successes in F1 with Williams, McLaren and Red Bull, has already received the ultimate gift at the start of his tenure with Aston Martin: a brand new wind tunnel, which has now been officially put to work by the British F1 team. It will be instrumental in the development of the 2026 car, which is Newey's main focus.
"The facility provides new technology that enables the aerodynamicists to observe in greater detail the complex flow physics of an F1 car," Cowell explains of the new wind tunnel. "To have everything here under one roof is extremely beneficial for us as we work towards being a fully operational works team from 2026."
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