Lawrence Stroll’s fellow Aston Martin investors are ‘losing faith’ and Chinese giants could pounce

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Aston Martin’s desperate financial crisis has led to doubts about Lawrence Stroll and the Formula 1 team’s future. It could open the door for Chinese company Geely to take over.

Aston Martin are in turmoil on and off the track in 2026. The Silverstone outfit are struggling to finish races, and the car is so underpowered that Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are accidentally saving the battery in the corners.

Off the track, the biggest problem is the company is in desperate financial trouble. Team owner Lawrence Stroll has been Aston Martin’s biggest source of cash since he stepped in in 2020.

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Recently, Stroll and his consortium injected another £50m into the company, as per The Telegraph, marking the eighth ’emergency’ cash injection as a public company.

The situation has led to speculation around the Canadian businessman’s future in F1, and indeed the team itself. It could allow Geely to swoop in and complete a deal.

Geely are ‘most likely’ to take over Aston Martin if Lawrence Stroll leaves

Stroll has stated he is committed to Aston Martin, which is proven through his huge investment in recent months, including the signings of Adrian Newey, Enrico Cardile, and his latest acquisition, Audi boss Jonathan Wheatley.

However, it is said that Stroll has spent more than he expected on Aston Martin, and it has led to rumours that he could pull the plug on the team. Many of his fellow investors are ‘losing faith’ in the company’s situation.

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Aston Martin’s shares have sunk to a ‘market capitalisation of just £430m’, with many doubting that the company is ‘financially viable’. Subsequently, Chinese company Geely are being linked with a takeover.

Geely hold a 17% stake in Aston Martin, having raised significant funds for the British manufacturer over the years. Of the other investors, they are the ‘most likely’ to step up if Stroll were to walk away, which could see them join the F1 grid.

READ MORE: All to know about Aston Martin F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Geely and BYD are fighting to get to the F1 grid

FIA president Mohammad Ben Sulayem has said that he wants F1’s 12th team to be a Chinese manufacturer. Whether Geely could enter the sport as a separate entity is another question, but they are interested in taking over an existing team.

They are not alone, either, as BYD are also interested in Aston Martin. The Chinese giants could rival Geely for the Silverstone outfit, or indeed another team, as they have been holding discussions in the F1 paddock.

Red Bull could sell Racing Bulls, having held meetings with both BYD and Geely. They could enter F1 through another route, but the situation at Aston Martin will certainly be monitored as their crisis continues.