🔗 Share this article

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is engaged in advanced talks to offload part of his shareholding in the Mercedes Formula 1 team.

This transaction values the Mercedes team at £4.6 billion – a record for an F1 team – after McLaren were valued at £3.5 billion in a change of corporate structure in September.

The Austrian executive, who owns a 33% stake of the Mercedes F1 operation, would sell a stake in the region of five percent.

Wolff, aged 53 would stay on as team principal and CEO should the deal proceed.

Shareholder Breakdown

Remaining partners in Mercedes F1 are Mercedes and chemicals giant Ineos Group, who both hold a third of the company.

An official representative stated: "We are providing no comment on the matter. The governance of the team stays unaltered, and each shareholder are dedicated to the ongoing success of Mercedes-Benz in Formula One."

Financial Increase

This arrangement signifies a significant increase in worth of the Mercedes team since Ineos Group acquired its share for £208 million in 2022.

The rise reflects the expansion in valuations of Formula 1 outfits in the past few years as a consequence of the growing popularity of the sport around the world.

This was also seen in the success of the Formula 1 film starring Hollywood star Brad Pitt, which was released in summer 2023 and has grossed over $630 million (£458 million) at the box office.

The film represents the actor's top-grossing film and the highest-earning sports film to date.

Present Performance

Mercedes are runner-up in the constructors' championship, trailing McLaren Racing, with three races remaining in the current championship.

Their lead driver George Russell has won 2 of the 21 races this year and is in fourth place in the individual standings after McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

The team won a unprecedented eight straight team titles and seven drivers' titles, six for Lewis Hamilton and one for Nico Rosberg, between 2014 and 2021.