Wolff Preparing to Sell Shareholding Pricing Mercedes F1 at £4.6bn

Toto Wolff with Mercedes F1 team — Toto Wolff has guided the Mercedes team to record-breaking success in F1

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

The deal estimates the Mercedes team at £4.6bn – an unprecedented figure for an F1 team – following McLaren were valued at £3.5bn in an adjustment to ownership structure in September.

The Austrian executive, who holds a 33% stake of the Mercedes F1 operation, would sell a shareholding in the region of 5%.

The 53-year-old will remain as team boss and CEO if the sale goes through.

Ownership Breakdown

The other shareholders in Mercedes F1 are Mercedes and chemicals giant Ineos Group, who each also own a third of the enterprise.

A Mercedes spokesperson said: "We are providing no comment on the matter. The governance of Mercedes F1 stays unchanged, and all three partners are fully committed to the ongoing success of the brand in Formula One."

Valuation Increase

The deal signifies a significant increase in value of Mercedes F1 after Ineos Group bought its stake for £208m in 2022.

The rise reflects the growth in market values of Formula 1 outfits recently 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 Brad Pitt, which was released last summer and has grossed over $630 million (£458 million) at the box office.

It is Pitt's most successful film and the highest-earning sports film ever released.

Current Performance

The Mercedes team are second in the constructors' championship, behind McLaren, with three races left in the current championship.

Their lead driver George Russell has secured victory in two of the 21 grands prix this year and is in fourth place in the individual standings after McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen.

Mercedes won a record eight consecutive constructors' championships and seven drivers' titles, six for Lewis Hamilton and one by Nico Rosberg, from 2014 to 2021.