American billionaire Woody Johnson has taken a minority equity position in the Aston Martin Formula 1 team, adding his name to the sport’s growing list of high‑profile owners. Johnson, who already controls the NFL’s New York Jets and holds a 43 percent interest in Premier League club Crystal Palace, is extending his sports‑investment portfolio into the world’s premier motor‑racing series.
Johnson’s family enterprise, Johnson & Johnson, is valued at roughly $20.5 billion (about £15.1 billion) as of June 2026, providing the financial heft to back such a venture. While the precise size of his stake in Aston Martin has not been disclosed, the deal is significant enough to grant him a seat on the team’s board of directors as vice‑chairman, effective immediately. In this capacity, Johnson will focus on expanding the squad’s commercial footprint, particularly in the United States, but he will not become involved in the day‑to‑day operational decisions of the team.
Current team principal Lawrence Stroll retains a 33 percent ownership share, and the remaining 67 percent is distributed among a consortium of private‑equity houses, sovereign wealth funds and other strategic investors. In a statement released by Aston Martin, the organization highlighted that Johnson’s investment underscores the team’s rising allure and the broader surge of interest in Formula 1 across the Atlantic.
The statement read: "The investment 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. Johnson's focus will be to support the team's commercial growth, especially in the United States, but he will not undertake any day‑to‑day management duties.
As executive chairman and controlling shareholder, Lawrence Stroll will continue to manage and control the company." Johnson, who served as the United States ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2017 to 2021, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership. He said, "During my time as US Ambassador to the United Kingdom, I developed a deep appreciation for Aston Martin's rich heritage, as well as Lawrence Stroll's strategic vision and entrepreneurial spirit. I am excited to partner with him and contribute to the continued development of the team, with the ambition of building an organisation capable of competing at the very highest level of the sport.
We also share a commitment to growing the fanbase in the United States and introducing even more fans to the excitement of Formula 1." The timing of Johnson’s entry comes as Aston Martin is navigating a challenging phase in the 2024 season. The team currently sits in 10th place in the Constructors' Championship after a lackluster first half of the campaign. Part of the struggle stems from a delayed start on their 2026 car development, coupled with Honda’s difficulty in meeting the new power‑unit specifications. This combination has left the squad playing catch‑up as rivals accelerate their own upgrades.
Despite these setbacks, there have been signs of progress. At the Hungarian Grand Prix, Aston Martin introduced a performance‑enhancing upgrade package, and Honda has promised an engine improvement for the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix.
The Dutch round, scheduled as a Sprint weekend, offers a compact three‑day format that includes practice sessions, a sprint race, and the main Grand Prix, all broadcast live on Sky Sports and available for streaming via NOW. The Dutch Grand Prix weekend itinerary is packed: Friday features a practice session at 11:00 am, followed by the F1 Academy practice at 12:55 pm, a team‑boss press conference at 2:30 pm, and the sprint qualifying at 3:30 pm. Saturday includes F1 Academy qualifying at 8:15 am, sprint build‑up activities, the sprint race itself at 11:00 am, and the main qualifying later in the afternoon.
Sunday culminates with the sprint race recap, the Grand Prix start at 2:00 pm, and post‑race analysis. Johnson’s involvement is expected to bolster the team’s marketing and sponsorship outreach, especially targeting American audiences that have shown a renewed appetite for Formula 1 following the sport’s recent surge in popularity on streaming platforms and social media. His experience with the Jets and Crystal Palace provides a template for leveraging cross‑sport synergies, such as joint branding initiatives, fan‑engagement events, and merchandise collaborations that could translate into higher revenue streams for Aston Martin. Beyond commercial considerations, Johnson’s entry may also influence the technical direction of the team.
While he will not be part of day‑to‑day engineering decisions, his strategic perspective and access to a broad network of business partners could facilitate additional investment in research and development, potentially accelerating the delivery of the 2026 car and the integration of Honda’s next‑generation power unit. The broader Formula 1 landscape is witnessing a wave of investment from American financiers and corporations, reflecting the sport’s expanding footprint in the United States. From Liberty Media’s ownership to the entry of new U.S.‑based sponsors, the series is positioning itself as a global entertainment product with a strong North American market. Johnson’s stake in Aston Martin aligns with this trend, signalling confidence that the team can capitalize on the sport’s growth trajectory.
For fans eager to follow the action, every session of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend will be streamed live on the NOW platform, with no long‑term contract required. Sky Sports will also provide comprehensive coverage, including the sprint race, qualifying, and the main Grand Prix, ensuring that viewers worldwide can track Aston Martin’s progress as they strive to climb the championship standings. In summary, Woody Johnson’s acquisition of a minority share in Aston Martin marks a notable addition to the team’s ownership structure, promising to enhance its commercial reach, particularly across the United States, while preserving the existing leadership of Lawrence Stroll.
As the season progresses, the partnership could prove pivotal in turning around the team’s performance and solidifying its position among Formula 1’s elite contenders.