US billionaire invests in Aston Martin

American billionaire Woody Johnson has bought a minority stake in the Aston Martin Formula 1 team. Johnson is the owner of NFL side the New York Jets and holds a 43 per cent stake in Premier League club Crystal Palace. His family business, Johnson & Johnson, is estimated to have a net valuation of $20.5b (£15.1m) as of June 2026.

Board role and commercial focus

Johnson will join the Aston Martin board of directors as vice chairman with immediate effect, though the size of his stake is currently unclear. Lawrence Stroll currently owns 33 per cent of the team, with the remaining 67 per cent split among private equity firms, sovereign entities and strategic investors. An Aston Martin statement said: "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. Stroll, as executive chairman and controlling shareholder, will continue to manage and control the company.

Timing amid a difficult season

Aston Martin are currently 10th in the Constructors' Championship after a poor first half and the start of their new power unit partnership with Honda. A combination of starting work on their 2026 car late and Honda not meeting power unit targets has put them on the back foot, but they brought an upgrade in Hungary and Honda have an engine upgrade at this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix.

"I am excited to partner with [Lawrence Stroll] 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," Johnson said. "We also share a commitment to growing the fanbase in the United States and introducing even more fans to the excitement of Formula 1."