Aston Martin Aramco F1 Owner Lawrence Stroll Talks Upcoming Season

Summary

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Bloomberg Talks: Aston Martin Aramco F1 Owner Lawrence Stroll Talks Upcoming Season

Date: February 9, 2026
Host: Bloomberg
Guest: Lawrence Stroll, Owner, Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team

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Episode Overview

This episode features a deep-dive interview with Lawrence Stroll, owner of the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One team, ahead of the 2026 F1 season. The discussion touches on the team's technical evolution, high-profile partnerships, regulatory controversies in F1, the business of sport, Aston Martin's road cars, and broader industry trends. Stroll provides candid insights into both racing and luxury automotive strategies, the impact of high-profile hires like Adrian Newey, and his vision for the future.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Starting the 2026 F1 Season: Technical Innovations and Challenges

[00:30]

• New Beginnings: Aston Martin entered the new season slightly behind rivals, with key technical hires and upgrades implemented a bit later than competitors.
  • Adrian Newey joined the team in March; first wind tunnel test with the new car only in April, compared to rivals in January.
  • Major new partnerships and technology upgrades for 2026:
    • New power unit from Honda as partner
    • First-ever in-house gearbox
    • Introduction of sustainable fuels with Aramco and Valvoline
    • Simultaneous change of chassis and power unit—a first in F1 in 75 years

"There's a lot of new, first time in 75 year Formula One history that they're changed chassis and the power unit simultaneously. So it'll be very exciting, no doubt, and be a lot to learn in the coming, first coming races."
— Lawrence Stroll [00:55]

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2. Defining Success for 2026 and Beyond

[01:18]

• Long-term Outlook: Stroll emphasizes a five-year strategy over short-term gain; no specific placement expectations.
• Team Confidence: Strong faith in current team, processes, and partnerships for sustained progress.

"It's not about the first race or two, it's about the next five years. Again, extremely confident we have the right people, we have the right tools, we have the right processes..."
— Lawrence Stroll [01:44]

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3. The Technical Edge: Regulation, Loopholes, and Controversy

[01:58]

• Rival Innovations: Reporter references rumors about Mercedes and Red Bull using variable engine compression—some suggest it's "cheating," though Christian Horner (Red Bull) dismisses it.
• Stroll’s View: Finding grey areas is part of F1; legality is up to technical teams and FIA. Stroll avoids technical judgment but acknowledges ongoing scrutiny.

"You're always looking for an edge in the rules and you're always looking to find loopholes. That's part of Formula One. I'm not a technical power unit guru to really give an opinion on exactly what they've done..."
— Lawrence Stroll [02:20]

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4. The Adrian Newey Advantage

[02:44]

• Adrian Newey’s Reputation: Seen as the greatest F1 technical mind; other teams are in awe of his innovative suspension design and championship pedigree (25 world titles).
• Impact & High Hopes: Stroll is "blessed" to have him onboard, confident in unique advantage.

"He is the goat. He is a unicorn. Nobody has a track record like he's had since his times in Formula One..."
— Lawrence Stroll [03:06]

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5. Broadening Partnerships: Breitling and Brand Synergy

[03:20]

• New Partnership with Breitling: More than a brand deal; crucial for "timekeeping" (a fundamental value in racing).
• Shared Heritage: Both brands root in technical precision, heritage, and fashion/attitude of Formula One.

"...Formula One is all about time. It's about the stopwatch, it's about the clock...I think Breitling captures the time component with their history, with their great timepieces."
— Lawrence Stroll [03:31]

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6. Sporting Diversification: No Plans Beyond Racing

[04:02]

• NFL Curveball: Asked if he’d buy into the Seattle Seahawks or other sports, Stroll laughs off the idea.
• Staying Focused: Overwhelmed (but satisfied) with current F1/auto commitments.

"No. I have my plate full right now. I'm absolutely thrilled with what I'm doing..."
— Lawrence Stroll [04:19]

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7. Team Valuations and Ownership

[04:41]

• Team’s Worth Rising: Questioned on whether he’d sell a stake after rumors of Alpine seeking investors.
• Clear Answer: No plans to sell; focus is fully on growth and sporting excellence.

"We're not looking to sell any shares. We're looking to grow the business and to do great in the sport."
— Lawrence Stroll [05:01]

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8. Aston Martin’s Road Car Business: Brand Perception and Growth

[05:11]

• Market Misconceptions: Many unaware of Aston’s SUV (DBX); product portfolio now expanding.
• Business Trajectory: Sales of Vanquish, DB12, and Vantage are strong; strategy is about patience and long-term execution.
• Dealer Adaptation: Dealers getting used to a broader lineup, with buzz around new models like Valhalla.

"...not so different in Formula one. Everything takes time...it’s also a 10 year journey. So we're quite pleased with where we are..."
— Lawrence Stroll [06:23]

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9. Embracing Mechanical Intimacy: Manual Transmissions and Brand Identity

[06:44] - [07:31]

• Analog Cars: Interviewer praises driving experience, wants more manual transmission options.
• Stroll Responds: Reveals two manual special editions released in recent years, reflecting continued customer demand for "analog."
• No Manual Vantage in Pipeline: Despite used market premiums for manuals, no current plans for manual Vantage model.

"We believe that, as you call the analog is still very relative for today’s particularly Aston Martin customers."
— Lawrence Stroll [07:12]

"...that's not planned for our lineup at the moment."
— Lawrence Stroll [07:52]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Technical Challenges:
  "First time in 75 year Formula One history that they're changed chassis and the power unit simultaneously." [00:53]
• On Newey’s Unmatched Value:
  "He is the goat. He is a unicorn. Nobody has a track record like he's had..." [03:06]
• On Remaining Focused:
  "No. I have my plate full right now. I'm absolutely thrilled with what I'm doing..." [04:19]
• On Product Patience:
  "Everything takes time. I've been in the road car business a similar amount of time as I've been in the Formula One team and it's also a 10 year journey." [06:23]
• On Manual Cars:
  "...we already have two, five speeds that we've introduced in the last three years to great demand." [07:12]

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Important Timestamps

• Technical Upgrades & Season Preview: 00:30 – 01:27
• F1 Regulation Controversies: 01:58 – 02:44
• Adrian Newey's Impact: 02:44 – 03:20
• Exclusive Brand Partnerships: 03:20 – 04:02
• Sports Franchise Interest: 04:02 – 04:41
• Team Valuation & Retention: 04:41 – 05:11
• Aston Martin’s Business Strategy: 05:11 – 06:44
• Manual Transmission Discussion: 06:44 – 07:58

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Summary

This episode gives listeners a candid look into the mindset of Lawrence Stroll as he steers Aston Martin through a transformative F1 season and evolving automotive landscape. The conversation covers team dynamics, technical innovation, reputation management, and brand identity—both on and off the track. Stroll’s focus is firmly on long-term excellence, with unyielding confidence in his personnel, consistent patience for product and sports evolution, and selective partnerships that reinforce the team’s values and heritage. For enthusiasts and industry watchers alike, his insights provide a roadmap for balancing innovation, tradition, and ambition at the highest levels of motorsport and luxury automotive business.

Transcript

[Bloomberg Host]

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[Lawrence Stroll]

We're very confident we started a little bit behind our competitors. Adrian only joined us in March. We didn't get our first wind tunnel car into the wind tunnel until April. So slightly behind our competitors I believe were in their tunnels in January. We have a lot of new, a lot of new partner with Honda, new power unit. We have a new gearbox we're making for the first time. We have new sustainable fuels with our fantastic partner Aramco and Valvoline for our lubes and our engine and our gearbox. So there's a lot of new first time in 75 year Formula One history that they're changed chassis and the power unit simultaneously. So it'll be very exciting, no doubt, and be a lot to learn in the coming, first coming races.

[Interviewer]

What would be, what would be a win for you or what would be success for you in terms of placement this season? What do you expect to get?

[Lawrence Stroll]

We don't really go in with expectations. We're going to try our best, do the best we can. I'm quite confident with the team we've put together and the partners I've just mentioned that will do a great job. You know, this set of rules is here with us for five years. So it's not about the first race or two, it's about the next five years. Again, extremely confident we have the right people, we have the right tools, we have the right processes, we have the right partners. So I'm very confident for extremely confident for our future.

[Interviewer]

We have seen reporting that Mercedes and Red Bull have found some kind of edge with variable engine compression. It's all very technical. Some have accused them of cheating like animals. I think was was a quote I heard. Others have defended them. Christian Horner came to their defense. What do you think about people looking for an edge in the rules ahead of the, ahead of the season?

[Lawrence Stroll]

Listen, you're always looking for an edge in the rules and you're always looking to find loopholes. That's part of Formula One. I'm not a technical power unit guru to really give an opinion on exactly what they've done, but I will leave it to those who are in the know. Obviously, there's a lot of talk going on between the various power unit teams and the FIA to check the legality of what they've done.

[Interviewer]

How about your confidence in Adrian Newey? Obviously, everyone's very excited to see what he can do with your team. And other teams have looked with a little bit of wonder and awe at the suspension, for example, that he's been able to create. What do you think are your biggest advantages with him?

[Lawrence Stroll]

You said it. It's having him. He is the goat. He is a unicorn. Nobody has a track record like he's had since his times in Formula One, winning 25 world championships. He is unique. There's one Adrian, and I am very blessed that he's my partner and with our team.

[Interviewer]

I was lucky enough to speak with George Kern last week, CEO of Breitling. And you now have a new partnership with them. What do they bring to the team beyond, you know, the brand?

[Lawrence Stroll]

Well, Formula One is all about time. It's about the stopwatch, it's about the clock. So one of the important partners is obviously a timekeeper. And, you know, there's a fashion aspect around Formula one of the way people dress of attitudes, and I think Breitling captures the time component with their historic, with their history, with their great timepieces. You know, they have a history also in aviation. So I think it's very appropriate these two great brands to be together.

[Interviewer]

By the way, a little bit of a curve ball here, Lawrence, because yesterday was the super bowl and the Seattle Seahawks were victorious. They're not too far far away from Canada, and there are reports that that team may be for sale. Would you ever consider going into another league, going into another sport beyond the track?

[Lawrence Stroll]

No. I have my plate full right now. I'm absolutely thrilled with what I'm doing, and sadly, you just spoiled it for me because I was planning to go back to my hotel tonight and watch a replay of the game because I was trying not to know who had won. So I made it this far.

[Interviewer]

Okay, I apologize. That's awful. Although, you know, it was the super.

[Lawrence Stroll]

Bowl, so that's okay.

[Interviewer]

In terms of the F1. In terms of the F1 team that. That you own, I mean, valuations have been amazing. There are reports now that maybe Al Alpine is looking to sell a stake, and I wonder if you would be interested in selling any of your stake or your team at this point, because it's worth so much.

[Lawrence Stroll]

Yeah, no, I'm very satisfied with my shareholding. We're not looking to. To sell Any shares? We're looking to grow the business and to do great in the sport.

[Interviewer]

Let's talk about the car business. I've been lucky enough to have seat time and in the Vanquish, as well as the Vantage and the DBX there. They're amazing cars and I have to say that a huge alternative to Ferrari is what you offer in something that has more beauty than sort of the kind of technical prowess that the Italians have leaned into. What do you think the market is getting wrong about Aston Martin, the business?

[Lawrence Stroll]

I think it's just a question of time. Not many people learned about the dbx, they're actually finding out about it now. They were not familiar that we even made an suv, because we don't historically make a product like that. It's actually doing extremely well at the moment. The Vanquish, as you say, is on fire. We have a fantastic order book for that, as well as DB12 and as well as Vantage. So for us, it's now a matter of sticking with our portfolio, growing our demand, getting our dealers in place. The dealers weren't used to also having such a diverse product offering from the company, particularly with the launch of Valhalla. So, you know, not so different in Formula one. Everything takes time. I've been in the road car business a similar amount of time as I've been in the Formula One team and it's also a 10 year journey. So we're quite pleased with where we are and we're quite pleased with the portfolio that exists and very excited about the portfolio that will be coming in the years to come.

[Interviewer]

I'd say I drove the DBX through our snowstorm in New York last week and it functioned perfectly. I wouldn't, wouldn't want to change a thing there with the Vantage. I might like to add an extra pedal. And I wonder if you've thought about leaning into the analog side of things. Aston Martin has always represented like a mechanical intimacy, whereas Ferrari seems to be leaning into sort of technical and computational excellence. Do you think that would be a good analog?

[Lawrence Stroll]

Well, we introduced two manual specials, so we already have two, five speeds that we've introduced in the last three years to great demand. So we believe that, as you call the analog is still very relative for today's particularly Aston Martin customers.

[Interviewer]

So you don't think there's any room for a manual vantage at your dealerships? Because it does seem like when I look through the, you know, the, the auctions and the used car listings, they command a huge premium, sometimes 100% premium for a manual car over an automatic.

[Lawrence Stroll]

Yeah, that's probably true. No, that's not planned for our lineup at the moment.

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