by Sky F1 pundit Ted Kravitz believes Aston Martin will be in contention for the Formula 1 world championship by 2026 with Adrian Newey now on board.
Newey’s arrival from Red Bull was announced on Tuesday, with the legendary F1 designer joining the Silverstone-based team in March 2025.
The 65-year-old, who is the most successful F1 designer of all time, won a total of 25 titles during an eventful career with Williams, McLaren and Red Bull.
His arrival at Aston next year, ahead of new regulations in 2026, could mark a shift in favour of the Lawrence Stroll-owned team and Kravitz described the move as “seismic”.
“He [Newey’s arrival] “It changes everything, it changes everything in Formula 1, Aston Martin, the future of drivers going everywhere,” he said on the Sky Sports F1 podcast.
“It’s an earthquake. I don’t want to exaggerate, or I would! It’s an earthquake. It’s not as simple as saying Adrian Newey is joining the team that used to be Jordan’s. But wow, what a team, what a facility, what an investment, what a prospect.
“With Adrian Newey on board, they will be title contenders in two years, three years at the most. And that will be an earthquake for Formula 1.”
Newey will work with double world champion Fernando Alonso and Canadian driver Lance Stroll – son of team owner Lawrence – from next season and Kravitz added that the designer’s arrival would boost Alonso’s chances of winning a third title in his 40s.
“Fernando Alonso is 43 today, he will be 44 when Adrian starts to have his first influence on the 2025 car,” Kravitz said. “He will be 45 when he drives the first car designed entirely by Adrian Newey, with a view to the championship.
“I asked Adrian directly, he said: ‘It’s the mental fatigue that’s going away, you’re still pretty fast, but you don’t want to do it anymore.’ If Fernando can resist that and wants to continue, then there’s no reason why he can’t.
“Fernando on his way to a third title at 45? Nothing says Fernando won’t get the missing 33rd title [race] “He still intends to win in 2025, with a Newey-inspired car. That would be fantastic.”
F1 returns after a week’s break this weekend with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.
