Aston Martin has received a major technical boost following the appointment of former Ferrari engineer Marco Fainello as a consultant, according to PlanetF1.com. Fainello, who was a key figure in Ferrari’s dominant Schumacher era, is renowned for his expertise in simulation technology—an area that Adrian Newey recently identified as needing improvement within the Aston Martin setup.
The recruitment follows Newey’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Aston Martin’s engineering capabilities ahead of Formula 1’s 2026 regulation overhaul. Earlier this year, Newey joined the team as managing technical partner and also took on a shareholder role, signaling a long-term commitment to transforming the team into a championship contender.
At 66, Adrian Newey remains one of F1’s most successful figures, credited with more than 200 race victories and 26 combined world titles earned through his work with Red Bull, McLaren, and Williams. His move to Aston Martin was seen as a defining moment for the team’s ambitions to challenge the sport’s dominant forces.
The 2026 season will bring sweeping technical changes, including 50 percent hybridization, the adoption of fully sustainable fuels, and the introduction of active aerodynamics. These shifts are expected to reshape car design philosophy across the grid, making simulation technology more crucial than ever.
With Fainello’s return to Formula 1 and Newey’s leadership in developing the AMR26—the team’s first car under the new rules—Aston Martin is positioning itself for a serious challenge at the top. The collaboration between two engineering veterans could be the key to unlocking the team’s long-sought competitive breakthrough.
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