Former Mercedes engine chief Cowell to join Aston Martin

Former Mercedes Formula 1 motor main Andy Cowell is to subordinate Aston Martin arsenic their caller group main executive officer.

The 55-year-old Briton masterminded nan accumulation of nan motor pinch which Mercedes became nan astir successful squad successful Formula 1 history from 2014-21.

The domiciled puts Cowell successful wide complaint of nan Aston Martin F1 squad nether proprietor Lawrence Stroll.

Cowell is expected to beryllium joined astatine Aston Martin by Ferrari chassis method head Enrico Cardile.

A high-level root successful F1 has told BBC Sport that Cardile has already signed a statement to subordinate Aston Martin, but nan squad person refused to corroborate his move.

Cowell, whose caller domiciled was announced officially connected Tuesday, will switch Martin Whitmarsh arsenic Aston Martin CEO from 1 October.

Whitmarsh, 66, a erstwhile main executive serviceman and squad main of McLaren, will manus complete his responsibilities earlier nan extremity of nan year, an Aston Martin connection said.

Cowell will beryllium charged pinch making nan squad a occurrence arsenic it enters a caller era pinch motor partner Honda from 2026, erstwhile F1 is introducing caller chassis and power-unit regulations.

Stroll said: “I americium delighted to invited Andy to our squad astatine a important time.

“We are connected way to go a world title winning team. Andy has my afloat backing and will person each assets disposable to win.”

Cowell said it was an “exciting time” to beryllium going Aston Martin pursuing nan completion of nan team’s caller mill astatine Silverstone, which has a caller wind-tunnel coming connected watercourse later this year, and nan commencement of nan Honda era.

Whitmarsh has a agelong narration pinch Cowell done their shared history erstwhile Mercedes were McLaren’s useful partner successful nan early 2000s.

Whitmarsh said: “I person known Andy for galore years and brought him to Mercedes High-Performance Powertrains successful 2004, wherever he became managing head betwixt 2013 and 2020, achieving immense occurrence successful nan business and sport.

“He will beryllium an unthinkable plus to Aston Martin and will make a important publication to nan execution of our strategy going forward.

“Andy’s presence successful October and nan completion of nan AMR Technology Campus will let maine to measurement distant and attraction connected different projects successful my life, knowing that nan foundations person been established pinch an awesome team, inspiring imagination and precocious accommodation to execute occurrence successful F1.”

On nan taxable of Cardile, an Aston Martin spokesperson said: “The Aston Martin F1 squad is simply a very appealing task pinch Lawrence Stroll’s vision, a authorities of nan creation caller Technology Campus and breathtaking partnerships.

“Many high-profile individuals crossed each areas of nan squad are linked to nan task but we don’t person thing to announce.”

Aston Martin leapt from nan midfield to beryllium regular podium contenders astatine nan commencement of 2023 but person suffered a slump this year.

After a comparatively beardown commencement to 2024, pinch respective top-six qualifying positions for lead driver Fernando Alonso, they person been struggling to make it into nan apical 10 successful caller races and are 5th successful nan constructors’ title aft 11 of 24 races.