An agreement with Red Bull means there will be no announcement over Adrian Newey’s future for some time yet.

It was confirmed earlier this year that Newey is leaving the Formula 1 champions early next season. It is a huge blow to Red Bull who have enjoyed incredible success in the sport since luring the legendary car designer to Milton Keynes back in 2006.

The 65-year-old has many options for his next team and was initially most strongly linked with Ferrari. The flames were fanned by Lewis Hamilton who publicly expressed a desire for Newey to join him at the Italian team.

The design guru said he was “flattered” by Hamilton’s kind comments. However, it appears they may not have swayed him as Aston Martin now look to be in pole position to secure his signature.

Newey was recently given a tour of the Silverstone-based team’s new factory and owner Lawrence Stroll is said to be very keen on signing the paddock legend. But it will be some time until it become clear what the 65-year-old’s next steps are.

Autosport reports Newey has an arrangement with Red Bull which means he cannot announce what team he is joining next until at least September. That would then leave a six-month period of leave before he officially begins work with a rival.

Newey has yet to make a final decision over his future but he is understood to be leaning towards the Aston Martin offer. And he may not be the only staff member they snatch from Ferrari’s grasp in the coming months with Enrico Cardile set to join.

Former Mercedes engine chief Andy Cowell is joining Aston Martin ( 
Image:
PA)

Though not confirmed, the team is said to have agreed a deal with Cardile, who has risen through the ranks at Ferrari to become head of aerodynamics at Maranello. But he has been tempted to make the move to England to help push Stroll’s ambitious plans forward.

The one new signing that is confirmed is that of Andy Cowell, the former head of Mercedes High Performance Powertrains. He will join as group chief executive in October, replacing the outgoing Martin Whitmarsh, and team principal Mike Krack told guests at an event at the team’s headquarters, including Mirror Sport, this week that he had “heard only good things”.

Driver Fernando Alonso is also optimistic and said: “I can only evaluate Andy Cowell, obviously, because all the others are just rumours… I’m very happy obviously. I don’t know him personally, and I only respect him as an opponent in the past but I’m looking forward to meet Andy to chat about his view in the team. Obviously, Lawrence has a lot of trust in him.”