Ex-F1 driver Karun Chandhok sees parallels between Adrian Newey’s arrival at Purple Bull and his new journey with Aston Martin in 2025.
Newey will begin work as Aston Martin’s managing technical associate on March 3, spearheading their technical group.
The 66-year-old can be tasked with making Aston Martin a title-contending outfit.
Whereas Aston Martin have made progress on monitor lately, with back-to-back P5 finishes within the constructors’ championship, they’ve struggled with in-season improvement.
Crew proprietor Lawrence Stroll will hope that the signing of Newey is the lacking piece as Aston Martin seems to be to capitalise on the brand new rules in 2026.
With different high-profile signings, reminiscent of Andy Cowell, their new group principal, and Enrico Cardille from Ferrari, Aston Martin are set as much as win in F1.
Talking on the Evo India podcast, Chandhok drew a comparability to when Newey first joined Purple Bull.
“I believe it’s necessary to think about that we now have a giant rule change coming. In 2026, the rulebook is being torn up,” he mentioned. “There’s an entire new algorithm coming. That creates alternative. So if you happen to rewind to the time when Adrian moved to Purple Bull.
“They had been a midfield group, a few podiums right here and there. He very a lot targeted on 2009 which was the brand new rule modifications. He obtained concerned 2007-08 however targeted actually on 2009. 07-08 was about establishing the construction for 2009. 2009 they obtained caught out with the loophole in any other case that they had the most effective automotive within the second half. From 10 to 13 they received the 4 championships.
“So really, in an analogous method, there’s a possibility in 2026 if he can spend ’25 creating the construction and constructing the group up, with the brand new guidelines in 2026. We may see a change rapidly.”
Alonso’s final probability in F1
2026 will doubtless be Fernando Alonso’s final probability to problem for an F1 title.
Alonso can be 44 years previous by the beginning of 2026, and his contract expires on the finish of subsequent 12 months.
Alonso hasn’t completed on the highest step of the rostrum since 2013, whereas his final title win was again in 2006 – practically 20 years in the past.
The Spaniard might bow out of F1 having pushed a Newey-designed automotive in his closing season.
Chandhok believes it could be a “nice story” if Alonso may problem for the title once more.
“Wouldn’t or not it’s wonderful if you happen to noticed a 45-year-old Fernando Alonso successful the championship in an Adrian Newey automotive, what a narrative that will be,” he added.
