American billionaire Woody Johnson, best known as the owner of the NFL franchise the New York Jets and a 43 percent shareholder in Premier League club Crystal Palace, has entered the world of Formula 1 by acquiring a minority interest in the Aston Martin racing team. While the precise size of his investment has not been disclosed, the deal positions Johnson as a vice‑chairman on the Aston Martin board of directors, giving him a formal voice in the team’s strategic direction while leaving day‑to‑day operations in the hands of existing leadership.
Johnson’s family enterprise, Johnson & Johnson, was valued at roughly $20.5 billion (about £15.1 billion) in June 2026, underscoring the financial firepower he brings to the partnership. His entry follows a period of rapid growth for Formula 1, especially in the United States, where the sport’s audience has surged thanks to aggressive marketing, new race venues and a wave of American‑focused media deals. Current team owner Lawrence Stroll retains a controlling 33 percent stake in Aston Martin, while the remaining 67 percent is held by a consortium of private‑equity firms, sovereign wealth funds and other strategic investors. In a press release, Aston Martin said Johnson’s involvement “further demonstrates the strong appeal and positive momentum of the team at a time of unprecedented growth for Formula 1, particularly in the United States.” The statement added that Johnson will concentrate on expanding the team’s commercial footprint across the Atlantic, but he will not take on operational responsibilities.
Stroll, as executive chairman and majority shareholder, will continue to steer the day‑to‑day management of the outfit. The timing of the investment is notable because Aston Martin is currently sitting in tenth place in the Constructors’ Championship after a disappointing first half of the season. The team’s performance has been hampered by a delayed start on its 2026 car development programme and a challenging partnership with Honda, which has struggled to meet its own targets for the new power‑unit regulations.
Nevertheless, the squad showed signs of progress at the recent Hungarian Grand Prix, where an aerodynamic upgrade was introduced, and Honda supplied an engine update for the Dutch Grand Prix weekend. Johnson, who served as the United States ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2017 to 2021, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership in a statement. He said his time in London gave him a deep appreciation for Aston Martin’s storied heritage and for Lawrence Stroll’s “strategic vision and entrepreneurial spirit.” Johnson added that he is eager to help the team evolve into a contender capable of winning races and championships, and that both he and Stroll share a commitment to growing the sport’s fan base in the United States.
“We want to bring even more Americans into the excitement of Formula 1,” he said. Beyond the boardroom, Johnson’s involvement is expected to open doors for new sponsorship opportunities, media rights deals, and fan‑engagement initiatives aimed at the lucrative U.S.
market. His connections in American sports, media and corporate circles could prove valuable as Aston Martin seeks to secure additional funding and brand partnerships ahead of the 2026 season, when the sport will transition to a new set of technical regulations that promise faster, more sustainable cars. The Dutch Grand Prix, which takes place at the Zandvoort circuit, marks the first sprint‑format weekend of the season after the summer break.
All sessions—including practice, sprint qualifying, the sprint race itself and the main Grand Prix—will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with streaming available through the NOW platform. The schedule is packed: Friday starts with practice at 11:00 am, followed by the F1 Academy practice and the team bosses’ press conference. Saturday features the sprint qualifying, sprint race and the traditional Grand Prix qualifying, while Sunday culminates in the full‑distance Dutch Grand Prix at 2:00 pm, followed by post‑race analysis.
For fans looking to follow the action, the event will also be available on Sky Sports Main Event, and the network encourages viewers to use the Chrome browser for optimal video playback. In addition to the main Formula 1 sessions, the weekend includes supporting series such as the F1 Academy and the Porsche Supercup, providing a full slate of racing entertainment. In summary, Woody Johnson’s minority stake in Aston Martin signals a strategic push to deepen Formula 1’s presence in the United States.
While his exact financial contribution remains undisclosed, his role as vice‑chairman and his extensive business network are expected to bolster the team’s commercial ambitions. At the same time, Aston Martin continues to grapple with technical challenges on the track, aiming to translate upgrades and new power‑unit developments into better results as the season progresses toward the transformative 2026 regulatory era.