An investigation by PlanetF1 revealed details of Adrian Newey’s involvement with Aston Martin in Formula 1, including the size of his stake, the rights associated with the shares, and the conditions under which the designer can leave the team with the value of his participation.
Read more Muller arrives at Interlagos looking to increase lead in the Porsche Cup standings
Newey owns approximately 4.7% of Aston Martin through 17,287 ordinary class D shares. According to the team’s documents, these shares are part of an incentive program intended for employees and are apparently exclusive to the British designer.
Although the shares grant voting rights, Newey does not have some of the powers assigned to other investors. Unlike Woody Johnson, for example, he does not have the right to appoint members to the team’s board. With Aston Martin’s current valuation at about US$ 3.4 billion, his stake would be worth approximately US$ 159.8 million.
However, Newey cannot simply sell the shares in the short term. The conditions set for his participation determine that he can only exercise the main exit options starting from March 2030, unless Lawrence Stroll sells his stake in the team. In that case, Newey would have the right to follow the operation and also sell his shares early.
Read more F1: Norris reveals new stance and says he has learned to assert his ideas
There is also an important condition if Newey leaves Aston Martin before March 2030. If considered a “bad leaver,” he would lose his stake, which would return to the team at the lower value between the original purchase price and the market value. Since Newey paid only £1 per share, the potential loss currently would be close to US$ 164 million.
The structure also creates an incentive for the designer to stay and help increase the team’s value. If he manages to exercise his option between March and September 2030, the payment will be calculated based on 62.35% of the reference value of the shares established before March 2025. An approved sale on the market, on the other hand, would allow Newey to receive 100% of the market value of his stake.
Even without owning the largest individual stake, Lawrence Stroll remains in control of Aston Martin. Through Racing Point UK and the Yew Tree Consortium, the businessman controls about 33% of the team, holds 75% of the voting rights, and can appoint or remove the majority of board members. Other investors include Arctos Partners with 17.3%, HPS Investment Partners with 11.3%, and the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund with 6.8%.
Read more F1: Verstappen talks about gains as a driver in virtual motorsport training
