‘Let’s see what he decides’ – Alonso ponders Aston Martin’s chances of signing ‘legend’ Newey

Fernando Alonso believes it is a “good sign” that Aston Martin are one of the teams that have been touted as a potential destination for Adrian Newey amid the news that the designer will leave Red Bull in the first quarter of 2025, with the Spaniard hailing him as a “legend of the sport”.

It was confirmed in the days ahead of this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix that Newey has decided to exit Red Bull after almost 20 years at the squad, during which time the cars he has designed have clinched six constructors’ titles and seven drivers’ championships.

ANALYSIS: Adrian Newey's Red Bull exit is confirmed – what next for the star designer?

While the Chief Technical Officer’s next move has not yet been revealed, his name has been linked with the likes of Ferrari and Aston Martin, with Alonso being a driver that Newey has previously suggested he would like to have worked with.

Given Newey’s illustrious track record in the sport – having also designed championship-winning cars for Williams and McLaren prior to joining Red Bull – Alonso is similarly full of praise for the Briton.

“Well he’s a legend of the sport,” the Spaniard commented on media day in Miami. “First of all I feel privileged to drive in this moment in Formula 1 and the last 20 years and sharing this sport with Adrian, obviously as a competitor, and it is a privilege.”

In terms of how much he would like to work with Newey at Aston Martin, Alonso continued: “[For him] to be linked with Aston Martin is already a good sign and good news for us, that a legend of the sport and Aston Martin are linked somehow.

NEED TO KNOW: The most important facts, stats and trivia ahead of the 2024 Miami Grand Prix

“But we are also very happy with our technical department, and let’s see what he decides and if he keeps working or not in the paddock. The most important thing for us is to concentrate on the new regulations, especially in 2026.”

Alonso is not alone in sharing his admiration for Newey, with Lewis Hamilton also acknowledging that he would “very much” like to work with the designer should he join him at Ferrari in 2025.

However, for now the focus is on the upcoming weekend in Miami, where Alonso and Aston Martin will also learn the outcome of a ‘Right of Review’ petition they launched regarding a penalty Alonso received following the Sprint last time out in China.

The two-time world champion was deemed to have caused a collision with Carlos Sainz during a battle for third place in the event, with the stewards subsequently handing him a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points despite his eventual retirement from the Sprint.

BARRETTO: Aston Martin’s masterplan is coming together – so can Alonso ‘finish the job’ and lead them to glory in 2026?

It was then confirmed in the days before F1 arrived in Miami that Aston Martin had initiated a ‘Right of Review’ process, which will begin with an initial hearing attended by representatives from Aston Martin and Ferrari on Friday.

Asked if he could offer an insight into what kind of new evidence the team may provide – and what he expected the outcome to be – Alonso responded: “No, I can’t. Obviously everything is now down to the stewards and the team, so let’s wait for tomorrow and I prefer not to comment but, yeah, let’s see what happens.”