Adrian Newey 'the right person for the job' as Lance Stroll reveals wishlist for perfect F1 car

Lance Stroll believes Adrian Newey is “the right person for the job” of creating his perfect Formula 1 car, pointing to the legendary designer's work on Sebastian Vettel's title-winning Red Bulls. The comment comes as Aston Martin struggles through its first season with Honda, failing to score a point in four races before a double finish in Miami.

Why it matters:

Newey's focus on design over team principal duties could be key to unlocking Aston Martin's potential. The 67-year-old is expected to hand over the team principal role to Jonathan Wheatley, allowing him to concentrate fully on development. Stroll's endorsement reinforces the faith within the team that Newey's genius can lift them from the back of the grid.

The details:

• Stroll described his ideal car: strong mechanical grip in low-speed corners, good aero grip at high speed, a light feel with responsive front end, and a solid rear under braking.
• He referenced Vettel's Red Bulls (2010-2013) as “close to perfect” examples of Newey's work.
• Aston Martin's early 2026 season was plagued by severe vibrations from the Honda power unit. Honda introduced countermeasures in Miami, resulting in a two-car finish (15th and 17th).
• Honda's trackside chief Shinatro Orihara said the focus now shifts to driveability and energy management. The manufacturer may soon qualify for FIA's ADUO scheme to catch up.
• Fernando Alonso flagged gearbox issues as the “number one fix” for Canada, citing poor downshifts and upshifts. Aston Martin is now producing its own gearbox.

What's next:

The Canadian Grand Prix, Stroll's home race, will test whether Honda's vibration fix and further energy management improvements give drivers more confidence. Alonso warned that Montreal's heavy braking zones could expose the gearbox weakness. If Newey's design influence and Honda's upgrades align, Aston Martin could begin a slow climb toward midfield respectability.