A lot of interesting things are happening now. There's so much going on. What are your goals? What is your roadmap in various areas such as engines, transmissions, fuel development, and everything related to 2026? Additionally, there are infrastructure projects like the simulator, wind tunnel, operations and human resources that need to be completed.

Yes, there's a lot happening! The racing season is only a small part of it. We have many plans for next year and beyond, it’s an amazing opportunity for all of us. We see it as a once-in-a-lifetime chance because if you look at the last 20 or 30 years in Formula 1, no team has done what Lawrence is doing with this level of ambition and investment.

2025 is the last year of this era, and you're working on developing a new car. Why and what are the strategies for saving resources?

Well, it’s not a completely new car for 2025 and yes It’s the last year, and as you know there are financial regulations on limit spendings. So Next year is unique for us because we need to develop the 2025 car while starting early work on the 2026 car. Therefore, some resources allocated to 2025 must be redirected to the 2026 car, more than usual. We will reuse the car’s chassis, brake system, and fuel system. Areas like aerodynamics and cooling will undergo some improvements.

Is that why Adrian and Honda are here?

Yes, for 2026.

Will you use a Mercedes engine in 2025?

Yes. So we have to take continuity into account due to financial constraints. Otherwise, we would do everything at the same time. But now, we need to make sure we spend wisely without affecting 2026 while doing our best for 2025. But that’s the situation for everyone.

Will Adrian focus only on 2026 aerodynamics or also 2025?

I think he’ll have input on 2025, and we will continue developing the 2025 car to a certain extent. We will, of course, try to utilize his knowledge, experience, and genius. But I think he’ll quickly shift focus to developing the 2026 car.

What do you see as the biggest challenge regarding the 2026 regulations?

I think the first challenge is assuming the infrastructure is ready, that we are ready, and that the regulations are finalized—because they haven’t been completed yett, So, the big challenge is balancing not panicking if something in 2025 could affect 2026. Sometimes, you have to accept that 2025 will be as it is at a certain point and not invest too many resources in 2025 if it affects 2026.

For 2025, there isn’t much change except for a few small adjustments. What are your ambitions for 2026?

Well, I think now, for a year and a half, we’ve been struggling to add significant performance to the car. In Formula 1, if you don’t add performance, you fall back. We started 2023 as the second or third best team. Now, we might be sixth, seventh, or eighth, depending on the race. Sometimes worse, sometimes better, like in Qatar, where we qualified fifth and finished seventh. In other races, like Mexico, we were very poor. So we need to make a step toward competitiveness. We need a leap in performance by fixing the problems we face. We’ve had a lot of instability that affects how the car responds, how it drives, and how the driver interacts with it. Our car is very challenging to drive, surprising drivers and forcing them to be cautious. If they think everything is fine but it isn’t, they can easily go off track. As you saw in Qatar, for example, Fernando had two laps invalidated in qualifying. Lance, you know, had an issue in the first corner during his critical lap. This shows how sensitive the car is. So, the car must become easier to drive, and when it does, it will also become more efficient. That’s one of our main development areas.

In 2026, you’re not only dealing with new regulations and fierce competition but also new entrants with great histories in Formula 1. For example, Ford is coming back and Cadillac is coming as well, and other brands like Audi and Porsche as well. So, where do you see yourself compared to these “newcomers” and established teams? Realistically, where do you aim to be?

I think we have a great opportunity, but we mustn’t underestimate our competitors. A team like Mercedes has made major generational changes. And traditionally, we’ve been a small team that struggled during generational changes. But now we’re no longer a small team. We’re expanding and setting up the tools because this is all research and development work. It requires extensive simulation, research, and understanding to predict what will happen. Once the regulations and cars are out, we can always draw inspiration.

For newcomers, it will be extremely challenging because they have no reference at all. They lack the necessary tools and racing team experience, so we need to give them time. Actually, building a team for 2026, at the end of 2024, is a massive task. Hats off to them if they manage to get it right. You have Porsche with great experience in various fields and Formula E. You have Audi with Formula E experience. If you look at it, and from my experience in Formula E, GT racing, DTM, and Formula 1, I understand the differences in levels and competition.

In terms of competitiveness, the number of people working on projects, and the number of strong competitors.

In GT or DTM racing, you might have two or three competitors. In Formula E, everyone has the same car, which simplifies things.

Formula 1 is highly competitive, and from the outside, you can never truly see how competitive it is.

Because when you have 800-900 people, what do they do? What do 800 people do? They look at every tiny detail to improve from day to day. That’s the “power of the team,” as they say. This capability doesn’t exist in other categories, making them less competitive by default. Additionally, the budget is 20 to 30 times larger now than in those categories.

What’s your vision for Aston Martin’s future in Formula 1?

I think it’s Lawrence’s vision first and foremost, but it’s also all of ours: to become a top-tier team capable of winning championships over the years, where every year we have the chance to compete for the title. Some years we’ll be very strong, and other years others will be stronger. But the vision is for the team to move to this upper echelon of teams and be championship contenders every year.

How do you balance team requirements?

It’s very challenging to balance the long-term strategy with the current reality on the race track. There’s always a “zoom in and zoom out” approach. When we’re here at the end of a race, we try to do everything possible to maximize the weekend and improve everything. But of course, we can’t completely change the car. When we’re on the track, it’s about development. Long-term, it’s about setting up operations, the factory, and partnerships. Balancing is difficult because the competition motivates you in the present, but it’s vital to look at the bigger picture when stepping back from the track.

What are the biggest challenges facing Formula 1 teams today, and how does Aston Martin address them? One of the biggest challenges today is predicting what will happen. Development and research take long timelines, and there are regulations. What we see now on the track was developed three to six months ago, or even earlier. We’ll get new regulations and have to predict what will happen, how competitors will react, and how development will unfold. Allocating resources and budgets correctly is a major challenge. Aston Martin in 2026 will be competing heavy especially with Adrian Newey coming from Redbull and working on aerodynamics and also changing engines from Mercedes to Honda, also a provider of engine for the Redbull Team, so let us see what the future holds for AM F1 team.