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Long-Time Aston Martin Engineer Announces Departure from Team
Highlights
- Tom McCullough to leave Aston Martin after 2026 F1 season
- Moved to leadership role overseeing Aston Martin’s racing expansions
- Mike Krack replaced McCullough as Chief Trackside Officer
- Force India achieved 4th in Constructors’ in 2016 and 2017
- Aston Martin plans chassis upgrades for Monza and Baku races
- Honda to debut upgraded power unit at Dutch Grand Prix
Tom McCullough will leave Aston Martin at the end of the 2026 Formula 1 season, closing a tenure that spans the team’s Force India and Racing Point eras.
The long-serving engineer has been central to trackside performance. In early 2025 he moved into a leadership post overseeing the company’s broader racing programmes amid a senior restructure.
Mike Krack subsequently assumed McCullough’s former remit as Chief Trackside Officer, while Aston Martin sits 10th in the Teams’ Championship after a difficult campaign.
McCullough entered F1 with Williams in 2002 as a data engineer, progressing to race engineer for drivers including Nico Hulkenberg, Rubens Barrichello, and Bruno Senna.
A spell as Sauber’s Head of Track Engineering preceded his 2013 switch to Force India, where his trackside leadership underpinned sustained midfield overachievement.
Force India claimed fourth in the 2016 and 2017 Constructors’ standings under McCullough’s trackside leadership.
Those foundations carried into the Racing Point era, culminating in a breakthrough 2020 victory and fourth overall, reflecting effective technical execution and race operations.
Mike Krack now leads trackside operations as Chief Trackside Officer.
Aston Martin’s current technical structure is headed by Adrian Newey, who combines Team Principal and Managing Technical Partner roles after sweeping organisational changes.
The team struggled early in 2026, often running the slowest car. A B-spec package at the Hungarian Grand Prix delivered a meaningful step, returning the car to midfield contention.
Further chassis updates are scheduled for Monza and Baku, building on the refined concept and correlating tools, alongside aerodynamic upgrade work already in the pipeline.
Honda will introduce its first upgraded power unit of 2026 at Zandvoort.
Engine partner Honda plans its first upgraded power unit of the season for Zandvoort, targeting improved deployment and efficiency to better exploit low-drag setups.
The aim is to consolidate gains and escape Q1 jeopardy regularly, converting opportunities through cleaner tyre preparation and less compromised race strategies.
McCullough has not disclosed his next move. His departure closes a significant chapter as Aston Martin pushes on with update-led recovery efforts through the second half of 2026.
Tom McCullough will leave Aston Martin after the 2026 season, ending a tenure spanning Force India and Racing Point.
Visual Summary
Force India
2013-18
2013-18
P4 • P4
Peak
Racing Point
2019-20
2019-20
🏆
Landmark Win
Aston Martin
2021-24
2021-24
Tough battles
Midfield
2025-26
Transition
Transition
B-spec hope ↑
Upgrades
Future
Post-2026
Post-2026
?
A new era
🏁
Tom McCullough Steps Away —
Legacy Leaves the Track
Legacy Leaves the Track
Over a decade shaping three teams, from Force India’s peaks to Aston Martin’s bold rebuild, McCullough’s hand steered their highest and hardest moments.
His final baton pass marks a turning point — what’s next for Silverstone’s storied squad?
His final baton pass marks a turning point — what’s next for Silverstone’s storied squad?
End of an era, or start of another?
2×P4
Constructors Peak
Constructors Peak
1️⃣
Race victory
Race victory
13+
Years trackside
Years trackside
Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.
