Horner in Running to Replace Cowell at Aston Martin as Team Turmoil Deepens

Horner in Running and Cowell’s Future at Aston Martin Under Threat

Aston Martin’s season has been turbulent enough on track — but behind the scenes, the atmosphere appears even stormier. What began as an ambitious restructuring under team owner Lawrence Stroll has quickly turned into a political chess match, with CEO Andy Cowell now on the brink of losing his job just a year after taking charge. And at the heart of the unfolding drama sits a very familiar Formula 1 figure: Christian Horner.

Multiple senior F1 sources have told BBC Sport that tension has reached breaking point between Cowell and Aston Martin’s celebrated new hire, Adrian Newey, whose arrival was hailed as a transformative moment for the Silverstone-based team. Instead, it has quickly evolved into a power struggle — one Stroll seems prepared to resolve decisively.

While no final decision has been made, the expectation inside the paddock is that Cowell will be removed from his role overseeing both Aston Martin’s F1 operation and the wider company structure. He may yet keep a position somewhere within the organisation, but his authority at the top of the team is hanging by a thread.

And hovering nearby is Horner, sensing opportunity.

Horner in Running: A Shock Return for the Former Red Bull Boss?

Christian Horner’s name being linked to Aston Martin would’ve sounded absurd five months ago. But this is Formula 1, and nothing stays still for long.

Horner, sacked by Red Bull in July after a chaotic year dominated by allegations, internal divisions and a team-wide loss of form, has re-emerged as a genuine candidate to fill Cowell’s shoes. According to insiders, he is actively pushing for the job — and not just the job. Horner reportedly wants a shareholding in Aston Martin, a sign he sees the role as a major long-term opportunity rather than a stopgap return.

Whether Stroll sees Horner the same way is another matter. The Aston Martin owner is known for two things above all else: ambition and control. And bringing in someone as high-profile — and strong-willed — as Horner comes with its own risks.

Still, Stroll has not stopped at Horner. Former McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl, Audi F1 boss Mattia Binotto and ex-Aston Martin CEO Martin Whitmarsh have all been approached. Whitmarsh, who Cowell replaced last year, was even offered his old job back — but declined.

“I decided to leave Aston Martin in 2023,” Whitmarsh told BBC Sport. “And whilst Lawrence has been very generous, I no longer wanted a role in the team.”

That alone speaks volumes about the atmosphere behind Aston Martin’s glossy facilities and state-of-the-art wind tunnel.

Horner in Running Partly Because Newey Wants Clarity — and Power

The root of the current crisis comes down to one question: Who really runs the team?

Cowell was brought in to lead the entire operation as CEO and de facto team principal. But the moment Adrian Newey walked through the door, the dynamics shifted. Newey is not just an employee — he is a 12-time constructors’ champion, a 13-time drivers’ champion, a shareholder and the highest-paid figure in the building. His influence is enormous, and his responsibility for the 2026 car makes him more essential than almost anyone else on staff.

So when Newey and Cowell began clashing over decision-making authority, the fallout was inevitable.

Newey’s move to Aston Martin was already complicated by his fractured relationship with Horner. He left Red Bull because he no longer wanted to work with him — a consequence of the allegations made by a female staff member accusing Horner of inappropriate behaviour and coercive conduct. Although Horner was cleared by two internal investigations, the trust within Red Bull collapsed.

Newey departed. Performance dipped. And after months of internal tension, Horner was removed following the British Grand Prix — leaving with a €60m settlement.

At the time, Newey reportedly said he didn’t want to be “in the same room” as Horner.

Yet in a rather surreal twist, the two were spotted attending an Oasis concert together this summer, suggesting a thawing of relations. Or perhaps, more cynically, a recognition that in Formula 1, alliances shift depending on opportunity.

Even so, that reconciliation doesn’t guarantee Horner the Aston Martin job. Stroll may simply decide that he does not want another dominant personality in the garage — particularly when Newey already commands so much influence.

Cowell Under Pressure as Aston Martin Faces Turning Point

Cowell’s potential departure would make him the fourth senior leader to exit Aston Martin in just three years. Otmar Szafnauer was removed in early 2022. Mike Krack, his replacement, was demoted last year when Cowell arrived. And now Cowell is on the verge of being sidelined himself.

The timing is awkward. Seven senior design engineers left the team earlier this month, part of a major technical restructure aimed at preparing for the 2026 regulation overhaul. Aston Martin is betting heavily on this reset — and on its future works partnership with Honda — to propel the team into the front-running fight.

But upheaval at the top rarely signals stability or confidence. Instead, it hints at deeper fractures.

And those fractures have become increasingly difficult to hide as the season has progressed.

Horner in Running for a Team That Needs Direction, Fast

Aston Martin’s 2023 rise was spectacular — six podiums in eight races — but its decline since then has been equally dramatic. Stroll wants success now, not in three years’ time. And with Newey designing the 2026 car, the next phase could be transformational… but only if the leadership structure is clear.

At the moment, it is anything but.

Horner brings experience, political sharpness, ruthlessness and a winning pedigree. He also brings baggage — a lot of it.

Cowell brings engineering credibility, stability and respect — but seems to lack the chemistry and authority needed to coexist with someone of Newey’s stature.

Stroll brings ambition and investment — but also a tendency to reshape the team whenever momentum wavers.

So who leads Aston Martin next?

For now, there’s no official answer. The team insists it “will not be engaging in rumour or speculation” and is fully focused on finishing the season strongly and preparing for 2026.

But inside the paddock, few believe Cowell will survive this.

And even fewer believe Horner won’t keep pushing until Stroll gives him a definitive yes or no.

One thing is certain: the future of Aston Martin, and potentially the next chapter of Formula 1’s political drama, hangs on the decision.

And with Horner in running, nothing about the next few months will be quiet.