Villeneuve identifies bold reason behind Aston Martin Newey signing

1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has identified a bold reason why he believes Aston Martin signed Adrian Newey. 

Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll won the race to sign the greatest designer in F1 history, which Villeneuve believes has been done to make his son, Lance Stroll, a world champion.

Newey will officially join the Silverstone-based team later this year on March 1, taking the position of managing technical partner whilst he will also become a shareholder of the outfit. 

The 66-year-old’s focus when he joins will be on Aston Martin’s car for 2026, when the new power unit regulations are set to be introduced. 

Lawrence has put significant money into not only hiring Newey, but into the team’s facilities to ensure it has the best in the paddock. 

A new factory has been built, whilst Newey will also have a new wind tunnel at his disposal. The ingredients are in place for Aston Martin to become competitive; however, it all needs to mix together. 

Villeneuve expects that Newey will require time to make his mark at the British team, but also ponders whether Lawrence’s son has the ability to become a champion with the right car.

“Adrian Newey cannot design a car alone,” Villeneuve told Spin Casino. “He needs the driver’s input. 

“He needs the right driver’s input and he needs the right people around him, which he will build over time. The factory that’s been built seems to be amazing, but it takes a while for the wind tunnel to work properly.

“It will take time. But Newey will get there in time. The goal for Lawrence [Stroll] is to get his son to become a world champion. 

“That’s why he’s putting so much money down. That’s why he’s doing all this. Can it happen? Who knows.”