Lawrence Stroll met with Christian Horner this week to discuss Aston Martin’s search for a new team principal, but Adrian Newey favoured a move for Jonathan Wheatley.

Aston Martin are targeting a deal to lure Wheatley away from Audi only 10 months after the Briton took charge of Sauber to guide the German brand’s debut in Formula 1 in 2026. Stroll is believed to view the 58-year-old as the ideal person to lead their race team under Newey.

Newey added the duties of team principal to his existing duties as Aston Martin’s managing technical partner last November. Stroll moved Andy Cowell aside to work closely with their new engine partner Honda and fuel supplier Aramco, but Newey was only a short-term fix.

The miserable start to the 2026 F1 season that Aston Martin have produced, partly because of Honda’s hugely unreliable engine but also due to the ARM26 clearly lacking grip, has now seen the Silverstone natives step up their pursuit of a new team principal to support Newey.

Adrian Newey is ‘opposed’ to Christian Horner joining Aston Martin but welcomes Jonathan Wheatley

According to BBC Sport, Stroll has made Wheatley an offer to run Aston Martin’s race team, with Newey maintaining his place as second in overall command. But, despite some reports that Wheatley is already set to join Aston Martin, he has not yet signed a deal to leave Audi.

Stroll believes hiring Wheatley to run Aston Martin’s race team would clear Newey to focus on improving the AMR26 for Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. But Stroll met with Horner this week, as well, with the 52-year-old out of work after being sacked by Red Bull last July.

Horner has frequently been linked with Aston Martin since he left Red Bull after 20 years in charge of the Milton Keynes natives. But Newey is understood to be ‘opposed’ to a reunion with Horner at Aston Martin, unlike Wheatley whom he sees as an ‘acceptable alternative’.

Horner, Newey and Wheatley were among the top figures in Red Bull’s hierarchy across the team’s first 20 years on the Formula 1 grid. Yet while Horner and Newey have repaired their relationship since leaving Red Bull, the latter is not keen to work with the former again yet.

Christian Horner ‘has not closed the door fully’ on joining Aston Martin

It remains to be seen whether Newey’s opposition was the final straw that saw Stroll seek a deal to hire Audi boss Wheatley as Aston Martin’s new team principal as, according to ESPN, Horner ‘has not closed the door fully’ on joining the Silverstone natives for his return to F1.

Prove me wrong: Christian Horner is the best person Alpine can hire in 2026

Investing in Alpine remains Horner’s priority, with Otro Capital open to selling its 24% stake in the Enstone outfit. But the former Red Bull boss still considers Aston Martin to be his top alternative, depending on the role that Stroll would be ready to offer, most likely as the CEO.

With Wheatley yet to officially sign a contract with Aston Martin, Horner could yet return to Stroll’s thoughts. Also, it is said that Audi could force Newey to remain Aston Martin’s team principal until 2027, as they are likely to hold Wheatley to a long period of gardening leave.

In a dramatic twist in the Formula 1 paddock, legendary designer **Adrian Newey** has reportedly vetoed billionaire owner **Lawrence Stroll**’s attempt to appoint former Red Bull team principal **Christian Horner** at Aston Martin. The news, first highlighted by BBC Sport and echoed across multiple outlets, has intensified speculation about power struggles and leadership changes at the Silverstone-based team amid a difficult start to the 2026 season.

Aston Martin’s 2026 campaign has been underwhelming so far, with the team struggling for points and facing reliability issues. Newey, who joined the squad in March 2025 as managing technical partner and later took on the team principal role, is said to be considering stepping back from day-to-day leadership to focus on his core strength: car design. This shift has prompted Stroll to explore replacements, leading to reported contact with Horner, who was dismissed by Red Bull in 2025 following a high-profile internal saga.

According to sources, Lawrence Stroll held discussions with Horner earlier this week about potentially bringing the experienced team boss to Aston Martin. Horner, who led Red Bull to multiple world championships alongside Newey for nearly two decades, was seen by some as a bold choice to inject stability and ambition into the team, especially with the new Honda power unit partnership. However, Newey is understood to have firmly opposed the move. Insiders claim the relationship between the two former colleagues soured during the later stages of their Red Bull tenure, making a reunion untenable for Newey.

He has instead expressed preference for Jonathan Wheatley, Red Bull’s long-serving sporting director, as a more compatible alternative.

The situation highlights an unusual dynamic at Aston Martin. Newey, widely regarded as one of F1’s greatest minds, was lured to the team with significant equity and influence. Yet his transition into a broader leadership position has reportedly exposed challenges in managing the political and operational demands of running a full team. Stroll, known for his hands-on approach and desire for rapid progress, now finds himself navigating internal resistance from his star signing. Some reports suggest ongoing contact between Stroll and Horner persists despite Newey’s stance, leaving the door slightly ajar, though Newey’s influence appears decisive for now.

This development adds another layer to Horner’s uncertain future. Since leaving Red Bull, the 52-year-old has been linked with various opportunities, but a return to the grid has proven elusive. A reunion with Newey at Aston Martin would have recreated the successful Red Bull formula from the 2010s, but personal and professional tensions appear to have prevailed. Meanwhile, Wheatley is increasingly viewed as the frontrunner for the Aston Martin role, with his deep knowledge of race operations making him an attractive, low-risk option.

The story underscores the complex web of relationships, egos, and ambitions that define modern F1. For Aston Martin, the coming weeks will be critical in resolving its leadership structure ahead of key development phases. Whether Stroll can override Newey’s concerns or if the team opts for a compromise remains to be seen. One thing is clear: the Newey-Horner chapter continues to generate headlines long after their Red Bull glory days.