Aston Martin and design guru Adrian Newey have been dealt a blow after rivals Ferrari won a case to keep a key employee on gardening leave for half of the new Formula 1 season.

Former Ferrari technical director Enrico Cardile left the Italian team to become the chief technical officer at Aston Martin last year, but the two teams have been fighting over his start date since.

Cardile had been with Ferrari since 2005, and has been seen as a major loss to the team.

But an Italian court has blocked Cardile from working for Aston Martin until 18 July, the half-way point of the 2025 season and right after the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

A statement by Ferrari said Cardile was “already violating the non-compete commitment with Ferrari”.

An Aston Martin statement said: “This is a matter between Enrico and Ferrari and their legal representatives in Italy, and the parties continue to be engaged in the process.

“As such we won’t be making any further comment. We will make an announcement in due course.”