Why an Aramco takeover of Aston Martin would be bad for F1

The royal family of Saudi Arabia has never made a secret of it: after winning the chance to host a Grand Prix, having their own Formula 1 team is the next step. Reportedly - at least it is not denied - the Saudis are in the market through state-owned Aramco to buy Aston Martin F1 for a firm astronomical sum from the consortium led by Lawrence Stroll. Should it come to that, it will be a bad thing for the look of Formula 1.

Formula 1 travel annually to Bahrain, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and thus Saudi Arabia for its races. Not because the local fans are so passionate about the sport; no, because sheikhs and others who value prestige highly pay sky-high fees to be allowed to show off Formula 1 within their borders. Critics say that F1 does not really belong in countries where human rights mean little to nothing.

Formula 1's response then is that it is precisely by being there, by starting the conversation, that change is possible. This is a slow proces, you have to admit. But it is a valid argument. However, actually having a Formula One team that is owned by Saudi Arabia is the other extreme.

Will Lawrence Stroll cash in?

That Lawrence Stroll and his partners may sell Aston Martin F1 at no for multiple the price of what the team was once purchased for is all up to them. Although one of the arguments for not allowing Andretti Cadillac into Formula 1 was the 'fear' that the Americans might sell the team in no time, only to pocket a fine profit. So Stroll and his friends might just do what Andretti was partly rejected for, but anyway.

Leaving that aside, selling to Aramco would be a bad idea. In this capitalist world, it is yet another signal that anything can be bought for a lot of money, regardless of whether you should want it from an ethical point of view. Indeed, there is a substantial difference between engaging in human rights dialogue if you are in the country for a single race, or giving such a country influence from within sport. The same royal family of Saudi Arabia that have a dim view of the rights of the LGBTQ community, for example, would then become part of a sport that pride themselves on equality.

Painful if Aston Martin becomes Saudi

That it is precisely the Aston Martin team that may end up in Saudi hands is extra painful. This team in particular - with former driver Sebastian Vettel as their very outspoken face at the time - was always very vocal about human rights and equality for all.