Aston Martin is restructuring: On October 1, 2024, Martin Whitmarsh will step down from his role as Group Chief Executive Officer. The position will be taken over by Andy Cowell, who will then work closely with the company’s management aka Lawrence Stroll. The Canadian multi-billionaire is still chasing a ‘6-star season’ for Aston Martin and is not afraid of any investment.
“I am delighted to welcome Andy to our team at a crucial time. Together with our factory partnership with Honda, the commitment of our title partner Aramco and Andy’s leadership, we are on the right track to become a world champion team. Andy has my full support and will be given all available resources to win,” the boss promises his future CEO.
After great Mercedes successes: Will hopeful Andy Cowell also lead Aston Martin to dominance?
Cowell is looking forward to his new position and the associated return to the Formula 1: “I am thrilled to be joining Lawrence’s exciting project and look forward to working with a talented group that has been assembled. Formula 1 has always been my sporting passion and I am joining Aston Martin at an exciting time, with the imminent completion of the AMR Technology Campus and our transition to a fully-fledged works team in 2026.”
After studying mechanical engineering, Andy Cowell had an impressive career in engineering: his career began in the trainee program at Cosworth, where he specialized in the design and development of Formula 1 engines. In 2000, he moved to BMW Motorsport and designed the engine for the 2001 BMW-Williams. In 2004, he became chief engineer at Mercedes-Ilmor.
Cowell remained at the engine manufacturer in Brixworth in the following years, first as technical director and later as managing director of Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains. The highlight of his time at Mercedes was the hybrid era of Formula 1 from 2014, in which the Brixworth team dominated the premier class together with the factory team and won seven constructors’ and drivers’ titles in a row. In June 2020, Cowell left Mercedes, whose position was taken over by Hywel Thomas. But it is precisely this highlight in his CV that Cowell has to thank the man he is now supposed to replace.
Martin Whitmarsh passes the baton to former companion
“I have known Andy for many years and brought him to Mercedes in 2004, where he achieved tremendous success in business and sport between 2013 and 2020. He will be an incredible asset to Aston Martin and will make a significant contribution to the implementation of our strategy,” said the current Aston Martin CEO about his successor.
Whitmarsh is not specific about his own future: “Andy’s arrival in October and the completion of the AMR Technology Campus will allow me to step back and focus on other projects in my life, knowing that the foundations have been laid with an impressive team, an inspiring vision and advanced facilities to succeed in Formula 1.”
Team owner Lawrence Stroll acknowledges the foundations Whitmarsh has laid for the Aston Martin team: “I would like to thank Martin, who has been instrumental in our growth phase as a company. Over the last three years he has developed the team and helped us achieve some significant milestones – including maintaining our relationship with Honda and building our state-of-the-art AMR Technology Campus at Silverstone.”
Turning point for Aston Martin in difficult 2024 Formula 1 season
The announcement comes at a critical time for Aston Martin. The Formula 1 team is currently experiencing a really weak The season and the results of the last races were inadequate. Despite great ambitions and investments, the desired triumph has not been achieved. The new CEO Andy Cowell is now expected to get Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll’s team back on track for success from autumn. With him at the helm and the support of Honda on the engine side from 2026, the team hopes to turn things around and finally get involved in the fight for the world championship.
What’s going on with Aston Martin? We asked our Formula 1 expert Christian Danner. You can see his assessment of the British racing team in this video: