Adrian Newey, the legendary Formula 1 designer whose career boasts over 200 race wins and 26 championships, has found an unexpected source of inspiration at Aston Martin: Lance Stroll. After his high-profile departure from Red Bull, Newey joined the Silverstone-based team as managing technical partner and shareholder, a move that sent shockwaves through the paddock. The 66-year-old’s arrival was widely seen as a coup for Aston Martin, fulfilling his long-held desire to work with two-time world champion Fernando Alonso. Yet, it’s Stroll—the often overshadowed teammate of Alonso—who has left Newey “positively surprised,” according to six-time F1 race winner Ralf Schumacher. This revelation, shared by Schumacher as a direct comment from Newey himself, offers a fresh perspective on the Canadian driver as Aston Martin gears up for the transformative 2026 season.

Newey’s move to Aston Martin came with lofty expectations. His track record of designing championship-winning cars made him a prized asset, and the team wasted no time integrating him into their ambitious plans. With new chassis and engine regulations set to reshape Formula 1 in 2026, Newey’s expertise is a cornerstone of Aston Martin’s strategy to challenge the sport’s elite. While his collaboration with Alonso—a driver he’d long admired—was a headline-grabbing subplot, Stroll’s contribution has quietly emerged as a point of intrigue. Speaking on the Backstage Boxengasse Podcast, Schumacher debunked rumors that Newey wanted to overhaul the driver lineup ahead of the regulatory reset. “That’s not what I heard in Africa,” he countered, referencing a recent encounter with Newey during the designer’s downtime in South Africa with his manager, Eddie Jordan, and wife.

Schumacher’s account paints a picture of Newey deeply immersed in his new role, often so focused on his notepad that he barely notices those around him on the racetrack. Yet, amid this intensity, Stroll’s approach has caught his attention. “He told me himself that he is actually positively surprised by Lance Stroll’s way of working,” Schumacher revealed. This praise stands in contrast to the narrative that has followed Stroll during his tenure at Aston Martin, where Alonso has consistently outperformed him over their two seasons as teammates. Stroll, the son of team owner Lawrence Stroll, has often faced scrutiny, with whispers of his potential exit from F1—some even suggesting a switch to professional tennis—circulating in the paddock. However, the 25-year-old has firmly dismissed such speculation, particularly the tennis rumor, which he addressed with a laugh on The Fast And The Curious podcast.

“Be careful, don’t believe everything you read!” Stroll quipped when the topic arose. “No, I’m really not that good at tennis! Someone came up with that—I don’t really know how that started brewing.” He acknowledged his love for sports growing up but was quick to shut down any notion of joining the ATP World Tennis Tour. “Am I good enough to do that? No,” he said, pinning the rumor’s origin on Sky F1 commentator David Croft. “Crofty pulled that one out of somewhere, I don’t really know where.” Stroll’s humor and self-awareness underscore his commitment to racing, a resolve that appears to resonate with Newey as the team looks ahead. Both he and Alonso are contracted through 2026, ensuring stability as Aston Martin navigates the upcoming changes.

Newey’s positive impression of Stroll suggests there’s more to the Canadian than his results might indicate. While Alonso’s pedigree and consistency have defined Aston Martin’s recent campaigns, Stroll’s work ethic and adaptability could prove vital as Newey refines the team’s technical direction. The 2026 regulations promise a level playing field, and Aston Martin’s success will hinge on the synergy between its drivers and its design guru. Schumacher’s insight, drawn from a personal exchange with Newey, hints at a dynamic shift—one where Stroll emerges as an unexpected asset rather than a liability. As the team builds toward its future, Newey’s surprise at Stroll’s approach might just signal the beginning of a redemption arc for the young driver. With Alonso’s experience and Stroll’s potential in the mix, Aston Martin could yet surprise the F1 world when the new era dawns.