Wolff Set to Sell Stake Valuing Mercedes Formula 1 Team at £4.6bn

Toto Wolff is engaged in advanced talks to sell a portion of his ownership stake in the Mercedes F1 outfit.

This transaction estimates Mercedes at £4.6bn – an unprecedented figure for a Formula 1 squad – following McLaren was appraised at £3.5bn in a change of ownership structure last September.

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

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

Ownership Structure

The other shareholders in the team are Mercedes and chemicals giant Ineos Group, who each also own a third of the enterprise.

A Mercedes spokesperson said: "We are providing no official statement on this. The management structure of Mercedes F1 stays unaltered, and all three partners are dedicated to the ongoing success of Mercedes-Benz in Formula One."

Valuation Increase

The deal would represent a significant increase in worth of Mercedes F1 since Ineos Group acquired its share for £208m in 2022.

The rise demonstrates the growth in market values of Formula 1 outfits recently due to the growing popularity of the sport globally.

This was also seen in the box-office performance of the Formula 1 film featuring Hollywood star Brad Pitt, which debuted last summer and has grossed over $630m (£458 million) at cinemas worldwide.

The film represents the actor's top-grossing film and the most successful sports film ever released.

Current Standings

Mercedes are second in the constructors' championship, behind McLaren, with three Grands Prix remaining this season.

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

The team won a record eight straight team titles and seven driver championships, six for Lewis Hamilton and one by Nico Rosberg, from 2014 and 2021.