Adrian Newey explains how AI contributes to F1 developments

Artificial intelligence has become one of the most discussed technologies in modern life, and according to Aston Martin’s team principal Adrian Newey, Formula One is no exception.

Speaking about the sport’s growing reliance on advanced computation, Newey offered a measured but revealing look into how AI and machine learning are shaping operations at the Silverstone‑based team.

Newey noted that while AI has become a mainstream buzzword, the underlying principles have long been part of Formula One’s technical toolkit. “Machine learning has been around for a long time,” he said. “It’s been superseded, if you like, as a buzzword by AI – everyone knows what AI is now. In truth, the AI that most people are using day to day is mainly just internet search-based and it’s pattern recognition.”

When asked whether he personally uses tools like ChatGPT, Newey laughed before steering the conversation back to the team’s highly specialised environment. “What we are using machine learning, or AI, for is much more specific tasks and therefore how we use that AI is incredibly tailored,” he explained.

“We’re typically not using anything off the internet because we are too specialised for that, but there are instances of using pattern recognition to help with relatively simple tasks and even race strategy through simulation and game theory.”

While Newey declined to detail the more advanced applications currently in development, he made clear that the pace of progress is reshaping how Formula One teams think about performance tools. “There are more advanced applications… which I’d rather not talk about at the moment,” he said.

He emphasised that the rapid evolution of computational capability is forcing teams to continually reassess what is possible. “The thing about things like compute power, data processing, artificial intelligence, is it’s all advancing so rapidly. What’s new now will be pretty much out of date in 12 months,” Newey said.

“It’s obviously incredibly exciting for us, and it’s up to us to work with our partners to keep up with that because the opportunities it creates are absolutely immense. It’s almost as if we have to keep reopening our minds to what’s available, not on a daily basis, but certainly on a six-month basis, to take the most advantage as things evolve.”

For Aston Martin, entering 2026 with a new works partnership and a fresh technical cycle, the integration of AI‑driven tools could prove decisive.

While the specifics remain behind closed doors, Newey’s comments underline a broader truth: in modern Formula One, the competitive edge increasingly lies not only in aerodynamics and mechanical design, but in how effectively teams harness the accelerating world of data and computation.