Why Adrian Newey inspecting Mercedes W17 revealed is raising questions
The legendary designer was caught studying the dominant Silver Arrows at Silverstone, notebook in hand.
Adrian Newey inspecting Mercedes W17 at the 2026 Mercedes W17 at the 2026 British Grand Prix has become one of the most talked-about moments of the Silverstone weekend. The legendary designer was caught on camera by Sky F1, notebook in hand, taking a long, careful look at the back of the dominant Silver Arrow.
Adrian Newey inspecting Mercedes W17: what happened?
Ahead of the British Grand Prix Sprint, Newey was roaming the Silverstone grid with his trademark notebook, taking a good look at the back of the Mercedes W17. The inspection was captured by the Sky F1 cameras, prompting presenter Simon Lazenby to head over for a chat about Adrian Newey inspecting Mercedes W17.
Newey said it is interesting to look at rival solutions, as Aston Martin readies its B-spec AMR26 car. That is a totally reasonable thing for any team principal and technical mind to do. But when it is Adrian Newey doing the looking, people pay attention.
It is easy to see why the W17 is worth studying. That car has claimed all bar one of the grand prix wins on offer in F1 2026. Hamilton’s Barcelona win marked the only non-Mercedes grand prix victory so far in F1 2026. The Silver Arrows have simply been in a class of their own this season. You can read more about their stunning form in our Mercedes AMG F1 team profile.
Why is Newey at Aston Martin, not watching from the sidelines?
Some fans may be surprised to see Newey on the grid at all. Newey revealed he was battling health issues during his first year at Aston Martin, leading to a “difficult period.” He left Red Bull in 2024 and joined Aston Martin in March 2025. He attended the opening round of the 2026 season in Australia, but opted against travelling to the next four rounds in China, Japan, Miami and Canada. His return to the paddock at Silverstone is a welcome sight.
Since 2026, Newey has served as team principal, technical director, and co-owner of Aston Martin in Formula One. So Adrian Newey inspecting the Mercedes W17 is not idle curiosity. It is a team boss doing his homework on the competition.
What is Aston Martin’s plan for the rest of 2026?
Newey explained the team’s approach: “We took the decision after Melbourne that there’s no point in introducing small changes that would still leave us with no real chance of scoring points. So, we’ll take a bit of pressure off ourselves, regroup, put systems in place for the future, and work on a proper upgrade.”
Fernando Alonso scored the team’s only point of the season during a chaotic race in Monaco, but with no upgrades due until the Hungarian Grand Prix in late July, the team has been firmly planted at the back of the grid.
The B-spec AMR26 package sounds significant. Newey described the upgrade, saying the team has developed a new nose and substantially revised aerodynamic surfaces, and while the core structure is similar, it is “a big aerodynamic package coupled with significant weight reduction.” That is exactly the kind of transformative step Aston Martin needs.
Antonelli and Mercedes continue to shine at Silverstone
While Newey studied the W17, its driver was busy showing everyone just how good it is. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli reinforced his Formula 1 2026 championship lead with an assertive win in the British Grand Prix sprint race at Silverstone. Antonelli’s championship lead over his Mercedes team-mate George Russell grew to 43 points.
In qualifying, the story was just as impressive. Kimi Antonelli stayed clear of the Ferraris to take pole for the British Grand Prix. You can read our full report on Antonelli’s British GP qualifying pole here, and catch up on his sprint victory in full detail here.
It is worth noting the energy challenges that every team faces at Silverstone this year. Our deep dive on energy management at the British GP explains exactly why the W17 is so hard to beat.
Adrian Newey inspecting the Mercedes W17: the bigger picture
This moment tells us something important. Newey is back, engaged, and hungry. He is not sitting in a hospitality suite. He is on the grid with his notebook, studying the fastest car in the field, looking for ideas.
The Hungary upgrade could be a real turning point for Aston Martin. If anyone can close the gap to Mercedes, it is the man who has designed more championship-winning cars than anyone else in F1 history. Newey’s designs have won 14 Drivers’ and 12 Constructors’ titles and 223 Grands Prix between 1991 and 2024.
Keep following rnt-motorsports.com for all the latest updates from Silverstone and beyond. For the full technical background on the W17 and its rivals, check out the official Mercedes F1 team page and the official Aston Martin F1 site for team news direct from the source.
