Johnny Herbert Warns of Newey’s Dual Role Load 2026

Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert has warned Adrian Newey about the scale of the workload he will face after officially taking on two senior roles at Aston Martin F1 Team ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

Newey joined Aston Martin in March last year as managing technical partner before it was confirmed that he would assume the role of team principal from the start of the 2026 campaign. The leadership change was announced ahead of last season’s Qatar Grand Prix, with Newey replacing Mike Cowell, who has since moved into the position of chief strategy officer within the British outfit.

For the 67-year-old, the appointment marks the first time in his Formula 1 career that he will serve as a team principal. At the same time, Newey has remained directly responsible for the design of the AMR26, placing him at the centre of Aston Martin’s technical programme during a period of sweeping regulatory change.

Herbert believes the combination of leading the team while overseeing its technical direction represents an exceptionally demanding challenge, even for a figure of Newey’s experience. He stressed that the role of team principal alone requires significant time, energy, and management focus, raising questions over how effectively both responsibilities can be balanced.

“No. I think it’s a surprise to all of us,” Herbert said.
“We’re going to have to wait and see if that actually works, because if he’s supposed to be doing both things, that’s one hell of an ask. Being a team principal is already a hell of a lot of work.”

“Yes, you’ve got people around you to help, but even so, it takes a lot of energy to be able to do that. So let’s see how it plays out.”

Herbert also highlighted additional variables that will shape Aston Martin’s competitiveness, including the integration of the Honda power unit for the 2026 regulations. He noted that multiple uncertainties remain, making Aston Martin’s project under Newey one of the most complex undertakings on the Formula 1 grid.

As Formula 1 approaches a new regulatory era, Aston Martin’s structure under Newey will be closely scrutinised. Whether the dual-role model can deliver competitive success will have a direct impact on the team’s long-term trajectory and its position in the 2026 championship battle.