In a surprising turn of events, Aston Martin announced that Dan Fallows, the Technical Director who led the team’s 2023 breakthrough, will no longer hold that position effective immediately. The news comes after a challenging season where Aston Martin’s AMR24 has failed to live up to the promise shown by last year’s AMR23.
Fallows, who joined Aston Martin from Red Bull in 2022 as Head of Aerodynamics, made an immediate impact with the AMR23. The car’s strong start and six podiums in the first eight races of 2023 marked Aston Martin as a rising force in Formula 1. However, as development stalled and the AMR24 fell behind in pace, Aston Martin’s 2024 season has seen them drop to fifth in the Constructors’ standings, relying mostly on early-season momentum.
In its statement, Aston Martin described Fallows’ departure as a mutual decision and confirmed he would remain with the Aston Martin Aramco Group, though no specifics were given about his new role. CEO Andy Cowell praised Fallows, saying, “Dan led the team to the success of the AMR23 which secured eight podiums last season.”
Fallows, reflecting on his time at Aston Martin, said, “It has been a joy and a privilege to guide the technical team. It is time for me to pass on the baton, but I look forward to watching the team’s future success, which I am sure will come soon.”
This change also means Fallows won’t be reuniting directly with his former Red Bull colleague, Adrian Newey, who is set to join Aston Martin next year as Managing Technical Partner. Newey will work alongside Enrico Cardile, who arrives as Chief Technical Officer in 2025, adding fresh expertise to Aston Martin’s reshaped technical team.
With these high-profile additions, Aston Martin is clearly restructuring its approach to regain its competitive edge. The team and its fans will be eagerly watching to see if the new leadership can turn things around and bring the team back to the podium.