🔗 Share this article

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is in advanced talks to offload part of his shareholding in the Mercedes F1 outfit.

This transaction values the Mercedes team at £4.6 billion – a record for an F1 team – following the McLaren team was appraised at £3.5 billion in an adjustment to corporate structure in September.

The Austrian executive, who holds one-third of the Mercedes F1 operation, would sell a shareholding approximately 5%.

Wolff, aged 53 would stay on as team principal and CEO if the sale goes through.

Ownership Breakdown

Remaining partners in Mercedes F1 are Mercedes and chemicals giant Ineos Group, who each also own one-third of the company.

A Mercedes spokesperson stated: "We will be making no comment on this. The management structure of Mercedes F1 will remain unaltered, and each shareholder are dedicated to continued achievements of Mercedes-Benz in F1."

Financial Growth

The deal signifies a significant increase in value of the Mercedes team after Ineos acquired its share for £208m in 2022.

The rise demonstrates the expansion in market values of Formula 1 outfits recently as a consequence of the growing popularity of the sport around the world.

This trend was evident with the success of the F1 movie starring Hollywood star Brad Pitt, which debuted in summer 2023 and has grossed more than $630 million (£458 million) at cinemas worldwide.

The film represents Pitt's most successful movie and the most successful sports film ever released.

Present Performance

Mercedes are runner-up in the team standings, trailing McLaren, with three Grands Prix left in the current championship.

Their lead driver British driver George Russell has secured victory in two of the 21 races this year and is fourth in the drivers' championship after McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

The team won a record eight consecutive team titles and seven drivers' titles, six won by Lewis Hamilton and one by Nico Rosberg, from 2014 and 2021.