Newey admits health battle, hopes Alonso stays for 2027

Adrian Newey has admitted Aston Martin’s troubled 2026 car is largely the result of decisions he pushed himself, while confirming the team’s long-awaited major upgrade will finally debut in Hungary.

After months largely out of sight despite serving as Aston Martin’s team principal, Newey also revealed he has been battling health problems, explaining why Mike Krack has taken on a more prominent public role.

"It was a painful decision," Newey said of Aston Martin’s strategy to wait for one major upgrade rather than introduce smaller packages through the opening half of the season.

"While others have been adding performance, we’ve effectively been standing still in relative terms, so each weekend can feel more painful than the last.

"But we believe it’s the right decision - the right investment for our future."

Newey admitted Aston Martin’s problems run much deeper than a disappointing car. "We were relying on tools and processes that had been patched and bodged for years," he explained.

"You could trace some of them right back to the very early days of the Jordan team."

He also accepted responsibility for some of the technical choices behind the current car.

"Aerodynamically, we also took a bold direction - which was largely pushed by me," Newey admitted.

"I wouldn’t say the direction we’ve taken is fundamentally wrong, but it has thrown up challenges we didn’t anticipate."

The long-awaited B-spec car is now scheduled to appear at the Hungarian GP "on both cars," the 67-year-old confirmed.

"It’s a big aerodynamic package coupled with significant weight reduction. The target is to get very close to the weight limit."

Newey also confirmed reports that illness affected him throughout much of last year and 2026 so far.

"I’m ok now, but it’s been a difficult period," he said. "In truth, I was not 100 per cent last year."

"I had to balance health and work much more carefully."

But he added that Krack’s increased visibility at race weekends is by design rather than a sign of any internal power shift.

"At the track, in terms of representing the team publicly and dealing with the media, that’s very much Mike’s role."

"He’s extremely good at it. That structure allows me to focus my time where I can add the most value."

Newey also acknowledged that Fernando Alonso’s future beyond 2026 could hinge on whether the Hungary package delivers.

"It’s very important," he said.

"Fernando is really looking forward to the upgrade and, if it performs we hope he’ll be in the cockpit for another season."

"Given his experience, his feel for the car, his ability to guide development, he’s a tremendous asset. But he wants to see clear, tangible progress."

"If we can show that we’re moving decisively in the right direction, he’s absolutely committed to being behind the wheel."