Key takeaways
- New leadership addition: American businessman Woody Johnson acquired a minority stake in Aston Martin and joined its board of directors as vice chairman with immediate effect.
- Commercial expansion: Johnson’s role will focus primarily on driving the team’s commercial growth and fan engagement in the United States, leaving day-to-day operations under executive chairman Lawrence Stroll.
- Multi-sport investor: Johnson is the heir to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical empire, owner of the NFL’s New York Jets, shareholder in English Premier League club Crystal Palace, and former US ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Aston Martin announced on Thursday (20) that American businessman Woody Johnson has acquired a minority stake in the team and joined its board of directors as vice chairman with immediate effect.
Johnson’s role will center on supporting the commercial growth of the squad, particularly in expanding its footprint across the United States, without taking on day-to-day management responsibilities. Lawrence Stroll continues in his role as executive chairman and controlling shareholder.
“During my time as US 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,” Johnson stated. “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 fan base in the United States and bringing the thrill of Formula 1 to even more supporters”.
An heir to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical empire, Johnson is widely known in sports ownership as the proprietor of the NFL’s New York Jets. In July of last year, he also acquired a 43 percent stake in Premier League side Crystal Palace.
Johnson is also a prominent donor to the Republican Party in the United States and supported Donald Trump’s 2026 presidential campaign, having previously been appointed by Trump as the US ambassador to the UK.
Aston Martin currently sits 10th in the 2026 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship with 1 point. The team’s driver lineup features two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso and Canada’s Lance Stroll.
Formula 1 returns this weekend, from August 21 to 23, for the Dutch Grand Prix — the 12th round of the 2026 season. GRANDE PRÊMIO covers all the track action live from Zandvoort with reporter Leonid Kliuev. Follow all the updates on our news page.
Session schedule: Dutch Grand Prix 2026
| Session | Local time (CEST) | UTC |
| Free Practice 1 | Friday, August 21 – 12:30 | 10:30 |
| Free Practice 2 | Friday, August 21 – 16:00 | 14:00 |
| Free Practice 3 | Saturday, August 22 – 11:30 | 09:30 |
| Qualifying | Saturday, August 22 – 15:00 | 13:00 |
| Race | Sunday, August 23 – 15:00 | 13:00 |
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Who is Woody Johnson and what is his new role at Aston Martin?
Woody Johnson is an American billionaire, owner of the New York Jets, and shareholder in Crystal Palace who has acquired a minority stake in Aston Martin and joined the team’s board of directors as vice chairman.
2. Will Woody Johnson manage the daily operations of the Aston Martin F1 team?
No. Johnson’s responsibilities will focus entirely on commercial expansion and strategic opportunities in the US, while Lawrence Stroll retains full executive control of team operations.
3. Which sports teams does Woody Johnson own or hold equity in?
In addition to his new minority stake in Aston Martin F1, Johnson owns the NFL’s New York Jets and holds a 43 percent equity stake in Premier League club Crystal Palace.
