Robert ‘Woody’ Johnson, the US businessman, sports team owner, and former ambassador to the United Kingdom, has acquired a minority stake in the Aston Martin Aramco F1 (AMF1) motor racing team.
Johnson will join the Formula 1 team’s board of directors as the vice chair of the organization “with immediate effect."
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Most prominently, Johnson is the owner of the NFL American football competition’s New York Jets franchise (which he purchased for $636 million in 2000), while just last year he spent £190 million ($255.3 million) to take a 43% stake in English Premier League soccer side Crystal Palace.
AMF1 says that his ownership of these two sports properties “will unlock valuable commercial synergies and opportunities for collaboration across the global sports landscape.”
Serving as the US ambassador to the UK between 2017 and 2021, Johnson has often professed an affinity for the country, which he credits with his interest in the iconic UK car brand Aston Martin and the associated (but legally distinct) racing team.
Lawrence Stroll, AMF1's executive chair and majority shareholder, is also part owner of the iconic car manufacturer, but the two are distinct companies.
Speaking on the deal, Johnson says: “During my time as U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, I have developed a deep appreciation for Aston Martin’s rich history, 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 organization 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 One.”
Lawrence Stroll added: “[Johnson’s] experience, passion, and investment further strengthen our position as we enter the next phase of our competitive journey. His deep appreciation for our brand, combined with his commitment to innovation and commercial opportunity, makes him an ideal partner as we look to the future.”
Currently, after 11 races of the 2026 F1 campaign, Aston Martin sit 10th out of 11 teams in the World Constructors' Championship standings, having picked up one solitary point across the opening half of the season.
In July 2025, carmaker Aston Martin Lagonda announced the sale of the remaining 4.6% minority stake in its Aston Martin Formula 1 (AMF1) team for approximately £110 million ($146 million). The deal valued the F1 outfit at £2.4 billion, making it one of the most valuable teams in the series, despite its return to the grid in 2021.
According to Forbes, the average F1 team is worth approximately $3.4-$3.6 billion, with every team now valued at over $1 billion. Ferrari leads with a valuation of up to $6.5 billion, followed by Mercedes ($5.88 billion), McLaren ($4.73 billion), and Red Bull ($3.5–$4.32 billion), with Aston Martin rounding out the top five.
The surge is fueled by cost caps, increased US popularity, and high profitability for top teams, with McLaren and Mercedes seeing the highest recent growth.
The agreed valuation of AMF1 represents a significant increase from Aston Martin’s last stake sale.
In 2024, US firms HPS Investment Partners and Accel Partners invested in the team at a £1.8 billion valuation. In 2023, meanwhile, Canadian billionaire and controlling shareholder Lawrence Stroll sold a stake in the team to US investment firm Arctos Partners, valuing it at £1 billion.
Despite the considerable rise in the team’s valuation in a short space of time, Jefferson Slack, AMF1’s managing director of commercial and marketing, believes the figure should be higher and on par with major US sports franchises.
“It speaks to the health of the sport, and frankly, I think that's undervalued,” he told Sportcal (GlobalData Sport) back in March. “Our revenue multiple is still smaller than an NFL or NBA team. We have fewer teams, and we're more global, so our risk profile is slightly de-risked.
Read more – In the Boardroom: Aston Martin Formula 1 Team
