Aston Martin has removed at least seven members of its Formula 1 design department as part of a wider restructure ahead of the 2026 regulations. Among those confirmed to have left is Eric Blandin, who joined from Mercedes as deputy technical director in 2022 and had been serving as aerodynamics director since the start of this year.
The team declined to comment on individual departures. An Aston Martin spokesperson said the outfit does not comment on internal matters and added that a technical restructure ahead of the 2026 season will be announced in due course. BBC Sport has reported that former chief designer Akio Haga is also among those to have left the F1 design group.
Some of the personnel affected by the changes may be reassigned to other parts of Aston Martin’s motorsport operations. The company also runs an advanced technologies division, where former chief technical officer Andrew Green was moved before the 2023 season.
Adrian Newey, who joined Aston Martin in March as managing technical partner, is leading the design work for the team’s 2026 car. The team also added Enrico Cardile, the former Ferrari chassis technical director, who started in August after leaving Ferrari in July 2024.
Aston Martin says the restructure is driven in part by the need to comply with Formula 1’s cost cap. Salaries for staff working on the car’s design count toward the cap, with the exception of the three highest-paid executives.
The team has been on an extensive recruitment drive in recent years as it aims to become a championship contender under owner Lawrence Stroll. High-profile hires have included Newey and Cardile, alongside team principal and CEO Andy Cowell, formerly head of Mercedes’ engine company, HPP. From 2026 Aston Martin will begin a factory engine partnership with Honda, the supplier to Red Bull since 2019.
