Andy Cowell is a British Formula 1 engineer and executive, currently the Chief Strategy Officer of the Aston Martin Aramco team. Born 12 February 1969, he is regarded as one of the sport's foremost powertrain specialists and is a Fellow of both the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Royal Academy of Engineering. ¹

Under Aston Martin's 2026 leadership structure, Cowell stepped back from running the team to focus on its technical partnerships, reporting directly to Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll. ²

“Andy Cowell is a British Formula 1 engineer and executive, currently the Chief Strategy Officer of the Aston Martin Aramco team.”

Education & early career

Cowell studied Mechanical Engineering at Lancaster University and joined Cosworth on its graduate scheme, specialising in F1 engine design and development. By 1998 he led the engineering group behind the CK engine that powered Stewart Grand Prix to victory at the 1999 European Grand Prix. He spent 2000 at BMW Motorsport steering the group that designed the 2001 BMW-Williams engine, then returned to Cosworth in 2001 as Principal Engineer for F1 design and development. ¹

Mercedes and the hybrid era

Cowell joined Mercedes-Ilmor in 2004 as a principal engineer, served as Engineering Director of the High Performance Engines division from 2008, and rose to Managing Director of Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains in 2013. He oversaw the development of the revolutionary V6 turbo-hybrid power unit that helped Mercedes win both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships every year from 2014 to 2020 — twelve world titles in seven seasons, one of the most dominant engineering runs in F1 history. He left Mercedes in June 2020 in search of a new challenge. ¹

Aston Martin

In July 2024 Cowell joined Aston Martin as Group CEO, succeeding Martin Whitmarsh, and in January 2025 he additionally became Team Principal, taking over from Mike Krack, who moved to Chief Trackside Officer. ¹ In November 2025 the team announced a fresh restructure: Adrian Newey would become Team Principal for 2026, while Cowell moved to the newly created Chief Strategy Officer role to help "optimise the technical partnership between the Team, Honda, Aramco and Valvoline and to ensure the seamless integration of the Team's new PU, fuel and chassis." Cowell framed it as the right time to step aside "having implemented much needed structural changes as we transition to a full works team and set the foundations for Adrian and the wider organisation." ²

Why he matters

With Aston Martin becoming a works Honda team for 2026 and integrating a new power unit, fuel and chassis simultaneously — a transition that produced significant reliability problems in the opening rounds — Cowell's deep engine-era expertise is directed exactly where the team most needs it. His Mercedes pedigree gives Aston Martin rare credibility as it tries to make a brand-new manufacturer relationship work at the front of the grid. ²

Bottom line

A powertrain engineer who oversaw F1's most successful hybrid programme, Cowell has reshaped his Aston Martin role from team boss to strategic integrator. For 2026 his task is to make the Honda partnership click as seamlessly as the Mercedes unit he once led — a job whose early difficulties underline just how hard a works-engine transition can be. ²