2026 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team

[GhostF1]

Bill, be nice .....

Ben Hodgkinson joined RBPT in May 2022. RBR had already won 4 of the first 6 race before Ben had his first cup of coffee or tea at RBPT.

Theoretically yes, but practically, in my opinion, no. He joined RBPT on April 23, 2021, and finished gardening in May 2022. But yes, don't you think he still contributed?

Wasn't Honda's most important jump the one it made with the 2021 engine? Unless Ben Hodgkinson and RBPT can time travel they would have had precisely 0 to to with that.

Just to put this to bed.
RBPT had zero to do with the design of the PU whatsoever except for trackside maintenance, some battery work and just general chassis integration for ancillaries, cooling and external routing for the RBPTH001/2/3 used in the engine freeze years. The power unit IP remained with Honda and no one at RBPT had a single thing to do with the design of the engine.

[CHT]

Aston Martin to sell F1 branding rights as it warns of bigger loss.

AMR is no Redbull Energy, doesnt have so much cash to burn. Perhaps Honda will take over the naming rights soon?

https://www.reuters.com/business/uks-as ... 026-02-20/

I had read that the F1 team had purchased the rights to the Aston Martin name indefinitely.

This is very odd financial arrangement because AM is supposed to be the sponsor for AMR GP, paying them close to £25m a year in sponsorship money in 2024 and offering free cars for their drivers.

Under this new arrangement, AM will terminate the sponsorship contract, while getting paid £50 million to allow the team to use AM name for their F1 team. So now the F1 team is paying AM to use AM name?

Here is what I found in AMR GP HOLDINGS LIMITED 2024 filing.
During the year, the Group received net income amounting to £25,380,000 (2023 - £36,748,000) in the
normal course of business from the Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC (Aston Martin) Group,
a Group that a director of the Company has significant influence over as Executive Chairman. At 31
December 2024 a net balance of £291,000 (2023 - £2,100,000) was due from (2023 - due to) AMR GP
Limited. Under the terms of the sponsorship agreement Aston Martin is required to provide one fleet
vehicle to each racing driver free of charge. This arrangement is expected to continue for the life of the
contract and is not expected to materially affect the financial position and performance of the Group.
One of the racing drivers is an immediate family member of one of the Group's key management
personnel.

[CHT]

Theoretically yes, but practically, in my opinion, no. He joined RBPT on April 23, 2021, and finished gardening in May 2022. But yes, don't you think he still contributed?

Wasn't Honda's most important jump the one it made with the 2021 engine? Unless Ben Hodgkinson and RBPT can time travel they would have had precisely 0 to to with that.

Just to put this to bed.
RBPT had zero to do with the design of the PU whatsoever except for trackside maintenance, some battery work and just general chassis integration for ancillaries, cooling and external routing for the RBPTH001/2/3 used in the engine freeze years. The power unit IP remained with Honda and no one at RBPT had a single thing to do with the design of the engine.

That is only partly true because there are 2 RPBT companies under RBPT.

RBPT Limited (partner with Honda) - Established since 2022
RBPT 2026 Limited (100% RB + Ford) - Established since 2023

[V10FURY]

[/quote]

I understand your idea, but don't even think that they will be satisfied with arriving 8 active in the builders after the investments made. Their goal is to finish in the top 5 this year.
[/quote]

I agree and my thoughts were even with Newey arriving a bit later than ideal the team would be starting around 5th fastest or so, with a full year to build on that pace. 2027 was always the real target for podiums and fighting at the front. I didn’t expect them to be this disastrous with a car unable to finish more than 25 laps at 2-4 seconds off the pace! If they manage to get to 8th from this position it will be a decent recovery. Unless they show up in Melbourne with a Honda drivetrain and gearbox that is vastly different : better, than what we have seen so far they will fail to finish the race with two DNF’s. But they might out qualify Cadillac over a single lap. I expect this pattern for the first 6 races until they get a new engine package. The problem is nobody else will be standing still either. That also makes the task ahead extremely challenging starting this far back.

Audi, Hass, Alpine, Racing Bulls and eventually Williams will all improve dramatically this season. Cadillac might struggle a bit to upgrade compared to these teams, but should also improve.

With only one good driver in the team this will also make it very difficult to progress up the championship standings. It also makes it harder to push the car forward in testing with drivers that are rarely in the same ball park. Lance Stroll is not on Alonso’s level in anyway shape or form. This also adds to the problem. We will know in 3 weeks just how bad this team is. There is no hiding it in Melbourne.

[FNTC]

https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a7046 ... ming-deal/
https://www.evo.co.uk/aston-martin/2085 ... -martin-f1

[V10FURY]

I expect them to qualify 10th or 11th in the first 4 races....

If you meant 10th/11th 'team', yes I agree
if you meant P10/P11, I reckon that's too optimistic

Yes I should have been more precise. I expect them to qualify around 20th and not finish the first 2-3 races at all. I will be pleasantly surprised if they can do better than that.

[CHT]

https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a7046 ... ming-deal/
https://www.evo.co.uk/aston-martin/2085 ... -martin-f1

AM is struggling with car sales due to slowdown in key markets like China and USA. Every year, they are paying around GBP25 millions of sponsorship money to AMR GP (F1 team) for its naming rights sponsorship. So now instead of paying they are receiving a one-time $50m cash injection in fees from F1 team.

On surface, the AMR GP (F1) will get to use AM name indefinitely, but that is also for the benefit of AM car for branding purpose. But the big hit for the F1 team be GBP50m paid for AM, plus GBP$25m per year of sponsorship money from AM. and no new AM car for their drivers from now.

So the team will have to find a new sponsors eventually because this affect cashflow for the company.

[edu2703]

https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a7046 ... ming-deal/
https://www.evo.co.uk/aston-martin/2085 ... -martin-f1

AM is struggling with car sales due to slowdown in key markets like China and USA. Every year, they are paying around GBP25 millions of sponsorship money to AMR GP (F1 team) for its naming rights sponsorship. So now instead of paying they are receiving a one-time $50m cash injection in fees from F1 team.

On surface, the AMR GP (F1) will get to use AM name indefinitely, but that is also for the benefit of AM car for branding purpose. But the big hit for the F1 team be GBP50m paid for AM, plus GBP$25m per year of sponsorship money from AM. and no new AM car for their drivers from now.

So the team will have to find a new sponsors eventually because this affect cashflow for the company.

Yeah, this naming rights purchase is basically a way to transfer funds from the Aston Martin F1 Team to Aston Martin Lagonda.

But as far as I know, the team's finances are in very good shape, and I believe this transfer shouldn't affect the team financially in the short term.

[diffuser]

I expect them to qualify 10th or 11th in the first 4 races....

If you meant 10th/11th 'team', yes I agree
if you meant P10/P11, I reckon that's too optimistic

Yes I should have been more precise. I expect them to qualify around 20th and not finish the first 2-3 races at all. I will be pleasantly surprised if they can do better than that.

Based on what we saw at the last 2 practices sessions, they'll break down atleast once between Friday through Sunday. I'd be pleasantly surprised if they finish 20th. When you haven't put in the laps because of reliability issues, there could be all kinds of surprises waiting for you.

[diffuser]

Aston Martin to sell F1 branding rights as it warns of bigger loss.

AMR is no Redbull Energy, doesnt have so much cash to burn. Perhaps Honda will take over the naming rights soon?

https://www.reuters.com/business/uks-as ... 026-02-20/

I had read that the F1 team had purchased the rights to the Aston Martin name indefinitely.

This is very odd financial arrangement because AM is supposed to be the sponsor for AMR GP, paying them close to £25m a year in sponsorship money in 2024 and offering free cars for their drivers.

Under this new arrangement, AM will terminate the sponsorship contract, while getting paid £50 million to allow the team to use AM name for their F1 team. So now the F1 team is paying AM to use AM name?

Here is what I found in AMR GP HOLDINGS LIMITED 2024 filing.
During the year, the Group received net income amounting to £25,380,000 (2023 - £36,748,000) in the
normal course of business from the Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC (Aston Martin) Group,
a Group that a director of the Company has significant influence over as Executive Chairman. At 31
December 2024 a net balance of £291,000 (2023 - £2,100,000) was due from (2023 - due to) AMR GP
Limited. Under the terms of the sponsorship agreement Aston Martin is required to provide one fleet
vehicle to each racing driver free of charge. This arrangement is expected to continue for the life of the
contract and is not expected to materially affect the financial position and performance of the Group.
One of the racing drivers is an immediate family member of one of the Group's key management
personnel.

Unless this is a refund, wouldn't it be taxable income to the recipient?

[CHT]

https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a7046 ... ming-deal/
https://www.evo.co.uk/aston-martin/2085 ... -martin-f1

AM is struggling with car sales due to slowdown in key markets like China and USA. Every year, they are paying around GBP25 millions of sponsorship money to AMR GP (F1 team) for its naming rights sponsorship. So now instead of paying they are receiving a one-time $50m cash injection in fees from F1 team.

On surface, the AMR GP (F1) will get to use AM name indefinitely, but that is also for the benefit of AM car for branding purpose. But the big hit for the F1 team be GBP50m paid for AM, plus GBP$25m per year of sponsorship money from AM. and no new AM car for their drivers from now.

So the team will have to find a new sponsors eventually because this affect cashflow for the company.

Yeah, this naming rights purchase is basically a way to transfer funds from the Aston Martin F1 Team to Aston Martin Lagonda.

But as far as I know, the team's finances are in very good shape, and I believe this transfer shouldn't affect the team financially in the short term.

AMR GP Holding Limited financial losses for 2024 is around £40m, and the team is heavily funded by shareholders loan.

ttps://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/13814807/filing-history/MzQ4NTcxMzA3NGFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0

[AR3-GP]

AM is struggling with car sales due to slowdown in key markets like China and USA. Every year, they are paying around GBP25 millions of sponsorship money to AMR GP (F1 team) for its naming rights sponsorship. So now instead of paying they are receiving a one-time $50m cash injection in fees from F1 team.

On surface, the AMR GP (F1) will get to use AM name indefinitely, but that is also for the benefit of AM car for branding purpose. But the big hit for the F1 team be GBP50m paid for AM, plus GBP$25m per year of sponsorship money from AM. and no new AM car for their drivers from now.

So the team will have to find a new sponsors eventually because this affect cashflow for the company.

Yeah, this naming rights purchase is basically a way to transfer funds from the Aston Martin F1 Team to Aston Martin Lagonda.

But as far as I know, the team's finances are in very good shape, and I believe this transfer shouldn't affect the team financially in the short term.

AMR GP Holding Limited financial losses for 2024 is around £40m, and the team is heavily funded by shareholders loan.

ttps://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/13814807/filing-history/MzQ4NTcxMzA3NGFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0

I think the prize money and Aramco accounts for at least 130 million which was the budget cap.

[CHT]

I had read that the F1 team had purchased the rights to the Aston Martin name indefinitely.

This is very odd financial arrangement because AM is supposed to be the sponsor for AMR GP, paying them close to £25m a year in sponsorship money in 2024 and offering free cars for their drivers.

Under this new arrangement, AM will terminate the sponsorship contract, while getting paid £50 million to allow the team to use AM name for their F1 team. So now the F1 team is paying AM to use AM name?

Here is what I found in AMR GP HOLDINGS LIMITED 2024 filing.
During the year, the Group received net income amounting to £25,380,000 (2023 - £36,748,000) in the
normal course of business from the Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC (Aston Martin) Group,
a Group that a director of the Company has significant influence over as Executive Chairman. At 31
December 2024 a net balance of £291,000 (2023 - £2,100,000) was due from (2023 - due to) AMR GP
Limited. Under the terms of the sponsorship agreement Aston Martin is required to provide one fleet
vehicle to each racing driver free of charge. This arrangement is expected to continue for the life of the
contract and is not expected to materially affect the financial position and performance of the Group.
One of the racing drivers is an immediate family member of one of the Group's key management
personnel.

Unless this is a refund, wouldn't it be taxable income to the recipient?

This is not refund. this is AM paying AMR F1 to promote AM brand, now AM is selling the rights for AMR F1 to use AM brand for their team and cars for $50m. Since both AMR F1 and AM are making losses, there will be nothing to tax.

[CHT]

I think the prize money and Aramco accounts for at least 130 million which was the budget cap.

Prize and sponsorship money are taken into account as sales for AMR, which is around GBP291m
Aramco sponsorship should be multi year, not per year basis.


Turnover, which excludes value added tax and trade discounts, represents sponsorship income,
prize money, non-F1 income and other income relating to the Group's principal activities and is
recognised in the year to which it relates once collectability is reasonably assured.
Both sponsorship income and prize money are recognised on an accruals basis across the period
in which it relates to.

In certain cases, the Group enters into agreements with suppliers whereby goods and services are
received in exchange for various sponsorship and marketing activities. In such cases, turnover is
recorded at the fair value of the goods or services rendered. Where these amounts cannot be
reliably estimated, no revenue is recognised.

Prize money in relation to performance in the Constructors' Championship is based on performance
in the preceding season. This revenue is recognised across the period of the Constructors'
Championship. Other commercial rights revenue is recognised as the respective rights are delivered
to the customer.

[AR3-GP]

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