The scheme is planed to get increased in stages, growing Mercedes’ stake in Aston Martin from the current 2.6% and making it the second-largest shareholder in the company. Aston Martin will join the F1 grid from 2021 onwards, when the currently existing team of Racing Point will be rebranded to Aston, following the investment of team owner Lawrence Stroll in the British company earlier in 2020. The team will be supplied with Mercedes engines, as it currently is as Racing Point. 

Toto Wolff, the Mercedes F1 team principal is also a private shareholder in Aston Martin, but has no links with the “upcoming” F1 team. When asked in an interview if Mercedes increased stake in Aston will have any transfer when it comes to the motorsports activities of either of the manufacturers, Wolff admitted no changes are currently expected. 

As he said: “No, not for the time being. The Formula 1 team, the Aston Martin Formula 1 team is completely independent from Aston Martin cars. Obviously the shareholding in Daimler is something that was decided purely based on the merit of the auto companies and not the racing side. From my standpoint, nothing changes.”

The deal between Mercedes and Aston Martin has a special emphasis on the technological developments through to 2027, giving the British manufacturer access to Mercedes’ powertrain architecture including their hybrid and electric technology. Lawrence Stroll admitted this partnership with Mercedes was a “transformational moment” for Aston, that will make it “one of the greatest luxury car brands in the world”. The involvement of Aston in F1 has been at the core of Stroll’s vision of the brand, although F1 operation is under a separate ownership.

From 2021, Aston Martin will be joined by the four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel behind the wheel, and he is also set to become a global ambassador of the brand.