The Race F1 Podcast Tech Show: Aston Martin's Andy Cowell on the challenge of designing an F1 car to brand-new regulations
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Oct 23, 2025 Andy Cowell, a senior executive at Aston Martin with extensive F1 engineering experience, discusses the monumental task of designing a 2026 Formula 1 car amid new regulations. He shares insights on integrating power units with chassis developments and managing numerical targets within the cost cap. The conversation also touches on strategy from recent races, Red Bull's resurgence, and the complexities of modern F1 team dynamics. Listener questions reveal his thoughts on engine degradation, challenges with cockpit water, and the future of sustainable fuels in racing.
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Diagnose Before You Develop
- Diagnose your car honestly rather than blaming rivals; find root causes before designing fixes.
- Gary Anderson advises focusing resources on the true weaknesses to enable meaningful gains.
Replace Tape With A Sensor Light
- Replace pit-wall tape with a sensor-driven indicator to remove visual aids and ensure fairness.
- Gary Anderson suggests using existing jump-start sensors to light a dash lamp when correctly positioned.
Managing A Massive 2026 Project
- Designing a 2026 F1 car requires synchronising many new subsystems under strict cost and aero testing limits.
- Andy Cowell says numerical targets and agile reallocations guide trade-offs across limited resources.