Blog

Aston Martin is bringing Andy Cowell – who was a key part of Mercedes’ dominance from 2014 to 2020 – back to Formula 1 as its new group chief executive.

Cowell is known as an engine expert. But as Mark Hughes explains in this column he wrote to mark Cowell’s departure from Mercedes in 2020, he’s much more than that:

Andy Cowell is a highly talented and fiercely competitive racing engine engineer. He is an aggressive, forward-thinking individual. He often pushes the boundaries of what is possible beyond what others might think possible.

His 1999 Cosworth CR-1, 2001 BMW P81 and 2014 Mercedes PU106 are testament to this, each of which has redefined Formula 1 engine technology. For Cowell, excellence is always within reach. It just takes setting the course.

That alone would make him one of the most important engineers in Formula 1 history. But for this man to be one of the rarest of engineers, a talented leader and team-inspirer – and for all of these qualities to be embodied in one man – is truly amazing.

Under his stewardship, Mercedes HPP became the dominant powertrain in perhaps the most engine-dominated formula ever in the championship.

He did this by instilling his own mindset in a team of several hundred bright, competitive minds—and getting them all to work in the same direction. He somehow managed to mobilize all the efforts, and minimize “losses in the system,” just as he would when designing an engine.

All of this is accomplished with a realistic sheen of contestant mischief. There is no big “ego” in Andy, no rigid formality.

The explosive energy is always close to the surface, but he is easy to handle – and great at explaining complex issues in a way that can be easily understood by an interested layperson.

“You have to persevere when things go wrong a few times until you get back up, dust yourself off and say, ‘Well, what did we learn there?’ and don’t give up.” :: Andy Coyle

He also races cars in his spare time – so he fully understands the difference between a map and a region, and also understands that he’s not trying to help build the best engine on the speedometer, he’s trying to make the best engine for the fastest overall car.

He had always understood this, but it was incredibly rewarding when circumstances brought him together with Ross Brawn in 2009. Soon after, the creation of the Mercedes works team dissolved the previous line between team and engine supplier and all bets were off.

He had joined (via Cosworth and BMW) what was then Ilmor in 2004 and was there when it became Mercedes HPP, becoming chief engineer two years later, director in 2008 – and chairman in 2012.

It has formed a great partnership with various McLaren engineers over the years when it was Mercedes’ official partner team, but having the Brixworth HPP plant as part of the same entity as the Brackley-based team, all under the Mercedes umbrella, has opened up new possibilities.

Cowell was the perfect man to walk through them and tear down the wall that held the doors back. It was at this very time that a completely new engine formula was due to be introduced, making the current Mercedes era in Formula 1 inevitable.

Energy, clarity, and depth: You can imagine his smiling face as he asks tough questions of the talented professionals who work with him—and quickly assesses the significance of the answers and acts on them.

There was always a task for Cowell to take charge of, and decisions were made quickly. He always aimed to improve the final lap time as the bright light he sought.

He once told me: “Engineering is balance, creativity, intuition, the best simulation in the time available…

“It’s also about determination and perseverance because the whole race is based on research and development and the success rate is low. A 20% success rate in research and development is good.

“You have to persevere when things go wrong a few times until you get back up, dust yourself off and say, ‘Well, what did we learn there?’ and don’t give up.”

So his absence will be a huge loss for Mercedes HPP and its Formula 1 programme. But he wouldn’t have become Andy Coyle if he hadn’t left behind a group of superbly qualified men to run the ball.

Whatever new “engineering job” Andy takes on, it will set new standards. In the wake of his departure from Mercedes, he will leave a team that is completely steeped in his philosophy.

Selfishly, I hope he doesn’t go; now I have to find someone else to direct my engine questions to.