Horner to replace Cowell as Aston Martin Team Principal

This rumor is downgraded to ‘false’ today with the announcement that Adrian Newey, not Christian Horner, will become the new Aston Martin Team Principal in 2026.

November 24, 2025

Aston Martin is staying tight-lipped amid mounting speculation that team principal Andy Cowell’s position is under serious threat following a chaotic few months in the technical department.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

When asked about the rumors, a team spokesperson said:
“We will not engage in rumor or speculation. The focus remains on maximizing performance in the final races and preparing for 2026.”

The story exploded after the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with British media suddenly linking Christian Horner to the role – a sensational prospect that would reunite him with Adrian Newey. However, many in the paddock remain deeply skeptical, pointing to persistent reports that part of Newey’s Red Bull departure stemmed from his strained relationship with Horner (who was himself later removed from the team).

Elsewhere, international outlets suggest former McLaren boss Andreas Seidl is in the frame, while Dutch media claim Cowell’s position has become “untenable” after a string of high-profile exits.

The most notable departure was aerodynamic chief Eric Blandin. Paddock gossip also claims up to seven other staff were let go following input from Newey and new technical director Enrico Cardile.

Cowell only assumed the team principal role at the start of 2025 as part of owner Lawrence Stroll’s ambitious restructuring. Some reports now suggest he could stay on in a reduced capacity, possibly overseeing Honda power unit integration for 2026.

Before Horner and Seidl entered the conversation, it’s understood Stroll approached former Aston Martin CEO Martin Whitmarsh about a possible return. Whitmarsh firmly ruled it out, telling the BBC:
“I decided to leave Aston Martin in 2023 and, while Lawrence has been very generous, I no longer want a role in the team.”

On track, 2025 has been a bitter disappointment. After Las Vegas, Fernando Alonso made no effort to hide his frustration with the car, telling DAZN the final two rounds felt like a relief:

“Qatar, with the sprint where there’s not much time to rest, and then Abu Dhabi – which is usually a farewell and then a break. Two celebratory Grands Prix. We won’t be driving this car anymore, so that has to be a reason to celebrate.”

With only two races left, the uncertainty at Aston Martin shows no sign of easing.

November 23, 2025

In the shadowy corridors of Formula 1’s glittering paddock, where alliances shift faster than a DRS activation, a rumor is gaining traction that’s got the rumor mill spinning like a V6 hybrid at full throttle.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

It’s November 2025, the season’s winding down after a chaotic Vegas GP, and the hottest gossip isn’t about the latest disqualifications or Verstappen’s tire strategy—it’s about Christian Horner, the ousted Red Bull maestro, plotting his phoenix-like return.

Word on the wind? He’s not just eyeing a seat at the team principals’ table; he’s gunning for a slice of the ownership pie, with Aston Martin as his prime target. And with the Green team’s coffers looking as depleted as a post-race fuel tank, this could be the cash infusion that turns their 2026 dreams from pipe to pipeline.

Let’s rewind the tape. Back in July, after two decades of turning Red Bull into an eight-drivers’-title juggernaut, Horner was unceremoniously shown the door. The official line was a vague nod to “internal restructuring,” but insiders whisper of a perfect storm: plummeting car performance (Red Bull’s 2025 win tally barely scraping double digits), a toxic power struggle with Helmut Marko, and the ghost of that 2024 inappropriate behavior scandal that never quite exorcised itself, despite two clearances. Horner, ever the showman, bid an emotional farewell to the Milton Keynes faithful, but sources close to the Brit say he walked away richer than ever—scooping a jaw-dropping £52 million severance package that severed his ties and unlocked his non-compete clause by mid-2026. That’s not pocket change; that’s seed money for a man who’s long harbored ambitions beyond the pit wall.

Enter the rumor: Horner, flush with that windfall and years of high-rolling bonuses (his 2022 salary alone topped £8 million), has been quietly courting investors. Paddock whispers suggest he’s amassed a war chest—potentially north of £100 million—aimed at buying into or outright owning a stake in an F1 outfit. His endgame? Total control, the kind he craved but never quite nailed at Red Bull, where Austrian overlords and Verstappen family drama clipped his wings. “Christian’s not done with F1,” a former Red Bull insider told me off the record. “He’s calling every owner from Haas to Alpine, pitching himself as the guy who can deliver titles *and* turn a profit. But ownership? That’s his white whale.”

And who better to hook than Aston Martin? Lawrence Stroll’s Silverstone squad is a glittering mess right now—seventh in the constructors’, a far cry from their podium-chasing promise. On track, the AMR25 is a drivable diva but lacks the bite to hang with McLaren or Ferrari, thanks to upgrade woes and a development curve that’s flatter than the Vegas Strip. Off it, the financials are a bloodbath: fifth straight year of losses, a £45.8 million hole for 2024 alone, and a staggering £1 billion-plus debt pile that’s got Fitch Ratings slashing their outlook to junk territory. Even a minor FIA procedural slap for late cost-cap filings feels like salt in the wound. Stroll’s poured billions into wind tunnels, Adrian Newey, and a Honda power unit deal for 2026, but with revenues dipping 27% and free cash flow hemorrhaging £400 million this year, the billionaire’s patience is reportedly fraying.

Cue the Horner hook. As Aston’s CEO and team principal Andy Cowell teeters on the exit ramp—rumors swirl of a Newey-fueled fallout and a shift to power unit duties—Horner’s name keeps bubbling up as the replacement. But it’s not just a principal gig; sources claim Horner’s pitching a dual role: operational overlord plus minority owner, injecting his fortune to shore up the books and fast-track that 2026 contender. Imagine it: Horner reuniting with Newey (awkward ex vibes aside), leveraging his Red Bull playbook to wring podiums from the AMR26, all while Stroll gets a financial breather to fund Lance’s seat and those multi-year sponsor deals trickling in.

Of course, Aston’s stonewalling the chatter—”no plans for involvement,” Cowell insisted in Singapore, though that was before the latest shake-up. And Horner’s been dialing every owner in the directory, from Gene Haas (who politely ghosted) to Flavio Briatore at Alpine. But Aston fits like a bespoke race suit: Horner’s win-at-all-costs ethos, a track record of monetizing success (hello, 124 race victories), and enough cash to plug those leaks. If it lands, it could catapult Aston from mid-pack mediocrity to title tilt, with Horner finally calling the shots as his own boss.

Another key thing to consider – Cowell was the top engine man at Mercedes F1 during their heyday. With Aston Martin changing to Honda engines in 2026, will Cowell be reassigned as top engine man for Aston Martin?

As Qatar’s lights flicker on next weekend, keep an ear to the ground. In F1, rumors have a habit of revving into reality. And if Horner’s empire rises in green, the paddock’s about to get a whole lot more interesting.