Could Ferrari and Newey have sealed the deal of the century?
In Formula 1 the question is simple: if it had really wanted to, could Ferrari with Adrian Newey have signed the deal of the century? That is the doubt circulating after the double disappointment in the Netherlands and the cool reception in Monza. The SF-25 is not delivering as expected, or at least not as Frederic Vasseur and his team had envisioned. With 2026 approaching fast, the support of the genius designer would have been priceless. And the reasons are clear.
Ferrari’s greatest missed opportunity
Fernando Alonso is an extraordinary driver, but also someone who tends to talk a lot. For years he has praised projects that later collapsed, though this was part of his own hopes. That does not necessarily mean the same thing will happen at Aston Martin. The reason is actually quite simple and not directly linked to Alonso himself: Lawrence Stroll’s team has not only modernised every part of its infrastructure, but has also hired the phenomenon among phenomena in the highest category of motorsport.
Adrian Newey may have “a few limits”. To clarify: this refers to his demands for complete freedom, a group of engineers under his command, a large budget, and the ability to carry out his work wherever he prefers. Ferrari could have easily met those conditions, but as we know, the team chose to say thank you and continue along a path of technical mediocrity that has lasted for more than three decades.
Why did they do that? Simply because those in charge at Maranello were convinced that Newey’s otherworldly talent could be beaten by people who keep losing and refuse to reinvent themselves. At the end of the negotiations, Ferrari was so confident that it let it be known that Adrian would eventually regret choosing the Canadian magnate’s offer when the Scuderia defeated him. That was the core of the matter.
At this stage we cannot say for certain that Aston Martin will be stronger than Ferrari in 2026, but imagining the opposite is not much more likely either. Beyond the difficulties of competing in an entirely new championship cycle, what will really matter is the development capacity, which is also being supported by the FIA. And on that, there is little doubt: the British designer will likely prove to be more capable and more prepared than Ferrari itself.
What Ferrari has given up
Let us return to Alonso. The Spaniard has been working alongside Newey for months now. He has observed him closely and studied him in detail. As a meticulous professional, Alonso has seen the light in Adrian’s eyes when he “describes” a Formula 1 car. His way of narrating a machine is unlike most others: he has the rare ability to see the car as a single unit, despite it being made up of thousands of components. That is a winning approach.
It is a philosophy that always aims at the final result, with the awareness that every single decision—whether mechanical or aerodynamic—must align 100% with the ultimate goal of the car. What does not work outside that vision is discarded. All of this is supported by his extraordinary understanding of the regulations, which allows him to anticipate the future earlier than his rivals.
This aspect becomes even clearer when looking back through his career, recalling the countless times he anticipated the others in very specific technical areas, gaining performance and advantages that were then wisely carried through regulation cycles. He is a living legend who still wants to win—and Ferrari, knowingly, chose not to deal with him.
The catalyst Ferrari “could not afford”
In life, belief in one’s own abilities is everything. That does not mean Adrian Newey has never had doubts—far from it. Doubts are part of his working method. However, his deep self-awareness and his ability to back it up with results have made him one of the hardest engineers to beat. He has been defeated, even by Ferrari in the past, but back then the Scuderia enjoyed decisive advantages: constant private testing and an army of first-rate engineers and technicians. A context that cannot be compared to today’s situation.
Now Adrian follows his own path, focusing entirely on the AMR26. He does not care about the others and dedicates his whole day to the new Aston Martin project. Most of all, he is eager to face Fred Vasseur and his team again on track.
It will be the kind of meeting where he will want to prove, without even speaking a word, that if there is anyone who should regret not finalising that long-discussed partnership, it is Ferrari. Certainly not Newey, who as a true catalyst of success, would not have been welcome in Maranello had the Scuderia returned to winning ways and been forced to acknowledge that a huge part of the credit belonged to him.
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