Aston Martin signs former Mercedes man pivotal for the team's turbo hybrid era success

Aston Martin have announced that former Mercedes executive Andy Cowell will join the Silverstone-based team as the Group CEO to replace former McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh. Cowell was an influential member of the German team behind their dominance in the turbo hybrid era working in the High Performance Powertrains division between 2013 and 2020.

The Mercedes power units were class-of-the-field from 2014 to 2021 when they won every single Constructors' Championship and seven of the eight Drivers' Championships before being overtaken by Honda. Cowell switched to a consultant role after their dominance ended at the beginning of the 2022 season.

As per Aston Martin's official website, Andy Cowell will replace Martin Whitmarsh as the Group CEO at the beginning of October this year. The 55-year-old said:

"I am thrilled to join Lawrence's exciting project and look forward to working with the talented group of people that has been assembled. F1 has always been my competitive passion. I am joining Aston Martin Aramco at an exciting time with the imminent completion of the AMR Technology Campus and our transition in 2026 to a full works team with our strategic partners Honda and Aramco."

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Aston Martin co-owner gives his take on Andy Cowell replacing Martin Whitmarsh

Aston Martin co-owner Lawrence Stroll stated that he was 'delighted' to welcome Andy Cowell to the Silverstone-based team at a 'crucial time' for them.

As per Aston Martin's official website, the Canadian billionaire said:

"I am delighted to welcome Andy to our team at a crucial time. Together with our works partnership with Honda, the commitment from our title partner Aramco, and Andy's leadership, we are on track to become a world championship-winning team."

Stroll also expressed his gratitude toward Whitmarsh who joined as the Group CEO in 2021 when they launched the Aston Martin project in F1, adding:

"I would like to thank Martin who has been instrumental in our growth phase as a business. In the last three years, he has developed the team and has helped us achieve some significant milestones, including fostering our relationship with Honda and delivering our state-of-the-art AMR Technology Campus at Silverstone."

Stroll further pointed out that the new Group CEO had his "full backing and will have every resource available to win."

It is indeed a crucial time for the British team as their original five-year plan, laid out by Lawrence Stroll in 2021, to become a world championship contender will be up at the end of the 2025 season.

Apart from some early success in the 2023 season, Aston Martin have failed to contend for victories and make further gains on the grid in the last three and half years. They currently sit in P5 in the Constructors' Championship with 58 points in the 11 races and three Sprints so far and are 101 points behind a resurgent Mercedes.