- Cowell helped Mercedes win consecutive titles between 2014 and 2020
- 55-year-old returns to F1 after nearly four years out of the series
Former Mercedes Formula One engine boss Andy Cowell has joined Aston Martin as the team’s group chief executive.
Cowell served as an engineering director and managing director during a period of great success at Mercedes, helping the team win consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ titles between 2014 and 2020.
Cowell left in 2020, and has now joined an Aston Martin team who have struggled in recent years but remain determined to be in contention for world titles.
Cowell will take up his post on 1st October and will report to executive chairman Lawrence Stroll. Current group chief executive Martin Whitmarsh will hand over his responsibilities at the end of the year, Aston Martin said.
“I am delighted to welcome Andy to our team at a crucial time,” Stroll said.
“Together with our works partnership with Honda, the commitment from our title partner Aramco and Andy’s leadership we are on track to become a world championship-winning team. Andy has my full backing and will have every resource available to win.”
Cowell added: “I am thrilled to join Lawrence’s exciting project and look forward to working with the talented group of people that has been assembled.
“F1 has always been my competitive passion, and I am joining Aston Martin Aramco at an exciting time with the imminent completion of the AMR Technology Campus and our transition in 2026 to a full works team with our strategic partners Honda and Aramco.”
BlackBook says…
This is a major coup for Aston Martin. Stroll’s championship ambitions have so far fallen short, with the team developing a habit of becoming slower relative to the grid throughout the season.
Having invested in a US$276 million factory, the foundations are in place for the Silverstone-based outfit to make progress. The next step is ensuring the correct personnel are behind the scenes so that development is both positive and consistent.
Aston Martin will also become the Honda works team from 2026, which emphasises the need for Stroll to ensure the team is in the best shape to maximise the opportunity this presents.
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