SILVERSTONE, England — The Formula 1 landscape gained a high-profile new stakeholder this week, as New York Jets principal owner Woody Johnson has secured a minority shareholding in British-based racing outfit Aston Martin F1. The team has not released any details regarding the financial value of the transaction, but confirmed Johnson, who previously served as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom, will direct his work toward accelerating the squad’s commercial expansion, with a particular focus on the growing North American market.
Johnson already holds major sports investments across two top transatlantic leagues: he maintains controlling ownership of the National Football League’s New York Jets, and also holds an existing stake in English Premier League soccer side Crystal Palace. Following the completion of the deal, Johnson will join Aston Martin’s board of directors in the role of vice chairman, though the team confirmed he will not take on any daily operational or management responsibilities. Current executive chairman and controlling shareholder Lawrence Stroll will remain at the helm of the organization, retaining full day-to-day management and overall control of the team.
In a statement welcoming Johnson to the Aston Martin fold, Stroll emphasized the strategic value of the new partnership. He noted that Johnson’s proven track record in sports business, long-standing passion for motorsport, and new capital investment will significantly bolster the team’s position as it enters the next competitive phase of its growth trajectory. “His deep appreciation for our brand, combined with his commitment to innovation and unlocking new commercial opportunities, makes him an ideal partner as we look to the future,” Stroll added.
Aston Martin’s official announcement also highlighted Johnson’s extensive global network of high-level industry and political relationships, which the team expects will support its ongoing expansion efforts. For his part, Johnson said his time serving as U.S. Ambassador to the U.K. during the first presidential term of Donald Trump fostered a deep respect for Aston Martin’s decades-long heritage in automotive and motorsport, as well as alignment with Stroll’s long-term vision for the F1 team.
“ We also share a commitment to growing the fanbase in the United States and introducing even more fans to the excitement of Formula 1,” Johnson said in the prepared statement. The investment comes amid a period of rapid growth for Formula 1 in the U.S. market, which has seen surging broadcast viewership, packed grandstands for the annual United States Grand Prix in Austin, and the addition of two new races in Miami and Las Vegas in recent years, making North America one of the sport’s most important regions for long-term growth.