F1 | Ferrari evaluating the Cowell situation: leadership shake-ups, Newey tensions and market moves shaping the Scuderia’s future
The departure of Andy Cowell from his role as Aston Martin Team Principal cannot be without consequences. According to the BBC, the British engineer is set to leave his current position. The team has not denied the report, merely stating that it would not “get involved in rumours or speculation.” No matter the angle from which the situation is viewed, it represents a jolt that raises several important questions. Andy Cowell had taken up his role within the Stroll-owned team only a year ago, welcomed with great fanfare. Even Toto Wolff admitted concern about the return of his former engine chief: “I fear Andy’s immense abilities as a rival, maybe even more than Newey.” The best engines in Mercedes’ history were developed under his leadership, and his departure in 2020 was far from painless.
The former Mercedes engineer is one of the people who knows the most about the 2026 car. Even before the arrival of Adrian Newey (and Enrico Cardile), Andy Cowell had reorganized the technical office structure according to his own vision. Some sources speak of a “storm inside the team,” but it is still unclear what the deeper disagreements were with the multi-decorated former Red Bull designer. The reasons may not be too different from those that prevented Maranello from meeting Newey’s own demands.
Did what looked like a harmonious mix of roles simply not work?
It is no secret that Adrian Newey wanted full control over resources — something he had become accustomed to at Red Bull after leaving McLaren. The results had proven him right. Fred Vasseur had offered him the role of Technical Director or special consultant, but what the design genius intended to do at Ferrari was, in practice, impossible to implement. It was simply a matter of structure and philosophy: Ferrari will never hand the entire operation over to a single individual.
The departure from the Team Principal role shakes the foundations of the organisation immediately, creating unexpected new doubts. It is important to note that Andy Cowell is also the CEO of Aston Martin, and this change could be connected to the Financial Times report about the Saudi Arabian sovereign fund — already a stakeholder — potentially increasing its shareholding in the team.
Andy Cowell is expected to be moved quickly to the working group connected to the Honda power unit. Normally, such a shift would be seen as a kind of forced purgatory. In any case, it cannot be described as a promotion, but rather a lateral move — even if mutually agreed — that reduces his influence.
Possible successors: Horner and Seidl
Two high-profile names are being linked to the role: Christian Horner and Andreas Seidl. Stroll possesses highly effective diplomatic skills, which he would need to use to repair what was once described as discomfort between Newey and Horner during the “Red Bull scandal,” later dismissed. Assuming the issues can be resolved, it still appears unlikely that Max Verstappen could join in such a scenario. As early as the beginning of 2024, the PIF made it widely known that it wanted to support Lawrence Stroll’s attempts to bring in both Newey and Verstappen. The potential arrival of Horner would effectively close the door to the entire Verstappen family. This could indicate that the team already has a plan B for the post-Alonso era — moving decisively toward Leclerc and possibly evaluating what happens with Piastri. Finally, not insignificantly, Horner could also join as a shareholder with his own capital, which would explain many aspects of this operation.
The other main contender is Andreas Seidl, formerly of Audi and CEO of Sauber during the transition period. He is a more linear figure, a strong option if Newey approves, and potentially crucial if the team wants to remain competitive in the race for Max Verstappen in 2027. Mattia Binotto appears to be a highly unlikely outsider: heavily involved in Audi’s project and, in terms of public image, already once close to Aston Martin before being beaten at the finish line by Cowell himself.
Who might be interested in Cowell if things truly break down with Aston Martin?
The British engineer could continue operating in the liaison area with Honda, although it is well known that the Japanese tend to be extremely reserved when it comes to sharing information. It may work, but a figure like Cowell could also become unnecessarily cumbersome. Could a return to Mercedes be an option? Nothing is impossible when the previous chapter ended with victories.
Is Ferrari interested?
Following the departure of Wolf Zimmerman, the Maranello engine department regrouped around experienced Italian senior members led by Enrico Gualtieri, alongside a rotation of second-tier engineers that brought in several former Renault specialists.
A potential interest in Andy Cowell would depend mainly on the need to replace Cardile in the management of technical resources, benefiting from Andy Cowell’s deep understanding of full-car project development. Vasseur is currently monitoring the situation very closely. This may be due to two significant factors: first, that Fred Vasseur could decide to appoint a Chief Technical Officer; and second, that Andy Cowell might be willing to move to a completely different environment. On paper, he is a major name who, given the circumstances, could become available with a relatively short gardening-leave period. In Maranello, he would also find two people who knew him very well from their Mercedes years — Loïc Serra and Lewis Hamilton.
In a broader perspective, any potential link between Ferrari and Andy Cowell inevitably fuels speculation about the long-term technical direction of the Maranello team. Under the leadership of Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari is gradually shaping a more internationally oriented structure while still remaining rooted in its own traditions and operating philosophy. A figure like Andy Cowell — who played a decisive role in the development cycles of Mercedes’ hybrid-era power units and who understands the foundations of the 2026 regulations better than most — would represent an extremely valuable asset for any Formula 1 team. His expertise, combined with the presence of engineers such as Loic Serra and the technical sensitivity of Lewis Hamilton, could theoretically support an additional leap forward in Ferrari’s ability to integrate chassis, aerodynamics, and power unit development. Although there is currently no concrete indication of an advanced dialogue with Maranello, the uncertainty surrounding his position at Aston Martin makes multiple scenarios at least plausible, and a potential Ferrari interest would not be surprising as the team looks to strengthen its technical structure ahead of the upcoming regulatory era. If it happens, it could turn out to be the most important move of the entire regulation cycle for the most famous name in motorsport.
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