Adrian Newey is one of the most successful figures in Formula 1 – now the Briton is set to star in a new Formula 1 documentary
He was responsible for years of dominance at Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull. His long list of successes includes over 200 Grand Prix victories, 14 drivers’ world championships, and twelve constructors’ world championship titles (see the Formula 1 database). We are, of course, talking about Adrian Newey.
The British motorsport engineer seems to be able to conjure up promising vehicle concepts for various Formula 1 regulations at will. At the beginning of 2025, Newey surprisingly packed his bags at Red Bull and moved to Aston Martin. The traditional British brand and owner Lawrence Stroll are now hoping for a competitive car in the fight for the world championship in 2026, which is why the “design guru” has been working flat out since March.
We would, of course, love to take a peek at the various notes that Newey scribbles in his infamous sketchbook on the grid. That’s probably exactly what Aston Martin, The Whisper Group, and Mark Stewart Productions had in mind when they announced a collaboration with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s production company (Artists Equity). This will make Newey himself the protagonist of a new Formula 1 documentary.
Film to showcase Newey’s passion and working methods
The film, with the working title “Turbulence: The Greatest Mind in F1,” is being produced in close collaboration with Formula 1 and Aston Martin. Newey will be closely accompanied on his journey into his next chapter.
“When Mark Stewart approached me about a documentary, I was honored, but I wasn’t sure whether I should agree. What touched me, however, were the many letters I received about my 2017 autobiography: readers told me how much the book had sparked their interest in technology—in the engineering behind racing cars, in the close interconnection between vehicle design and driver, and in how much success is also a question of mentality,” said Newey about the project’s origins.
“I hope this film can show the passion, the way of working, and the mental strength that it takes to get a Formula 1 car to the starting line. The film follows the challenges that arose when I joined a new team at the beginning of March.”
Focus on Aston Martin development for 2026
The film focuses on Newey’s move from Red Bull to Aston Martin and the work on the upcoming race car under high expectations and the new 2026 Formula 1 regulations. Aston Martin wants to grant the documentary exclusive access behind the scenes of the team at its Silverstone location.
The current development story will be interwoven with flashbacks to triumphs and tragic low points in the Briton’s career. According to the press release, “Turbulence” is also set to be a film that “goes far beyond motorsport and highlights universal themes such as ambition, sacrifice, tragedy, and new beginnings.”
“Adrian Newey is the greatest engineer Formula 1 has ever seen. I’ve known him for many years, and this project comes at a very special moment in his career. It’s a great privilege for MSP to be able to tell this extraordinary story together with such a great team in London and Los Angeles,” said Stewart about his latest film.
Filmmaker with close ties to Formula 1
The filmmaker was already involved in Roman Polanski’s 1972 film “Weekend of a Champion” about his father Jackie Stewart and his Monaco weekend in 1971 as co-producer. His production company has won several awards for documentaries.
Following the Netflix series “Drive to Survive,” Keanu Reeves’ Brawn GP documentary series, which now also accompanies Cadillac’s entry, and the Formula 1 film, Formula 1 remains a hot topic in pop culture. When the new Newey film will be released and where it will be broadcast is not yet known.