Adrian Newey has confirmed that he will be increasing his involvement in Formula 1, returning to a full-time role.
Despite being a key figure behind Red Bull's recent triumphs, the 65-year-old has not been fully committed to Formula 1 for the past few years.
"He is going to be full-time," announced Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll on Wednesday, as Newey's much-anticipated move to the team was officially revealed.
Aston Martin has explained that Newey's new title will be 'managing technical partner' once he joins in March next year, which will also include an ownership stake.
Billionaire Stroll emphasized that Newey will be "fully dedicated to providing his leadership and direction to the team."
"He will be technical partner, leader of the technical team and a leader within the company as a partner and shareholder. So I will let him decide the structure, as he knows more than me."
Newey also confirmed that his new role will require him to work full-time.
"I'll be fully in. I need to be. I have to be," Newey is quoted as saying by El Mundo Deportivo.
"I want to be at the centre of everything, in the thick of it. Changing teams is a big commitment to try to understand how everyone works, to be involved in how things take shape. That takes time and commitment, so yes. Once I start, I will be 100 percent committed."
Newey also acknowledged his involvement in other projects at Red Bull, such as the Valkyrie hypercar, but disputed suggestions that his time in F1 was limited to just three days per week.
"I don't know where the rumour about three days a week came from," he stated.
"I'm not here to talk about Red Bull, but it's well known that in 2014 we were in a position where we didn't have a very competitive power unit and there was no light at the end of the tunnel. That's where I thought I needed to get involved in something else. And then the Valkyrie came along," Newey explained.
"Once we had Honda, we were in a very different situation and that's when I got fully involved on the F1 side again," he said. "It's a very mature team now and I feel that once we got through the big rule change in 2022, I could take a step back and withdraw a little bit because 2023 was an evolution of 2022 and so with 2024."
"But this is something different, a new challenge," Newey said of his move to Aston Martin. "It's a new stimulus. And I always do what I think is necessary for the good of the team."
