Wolff Preparing to Sell Stake Pricing Mercedes Formula 1 Team at £4.6bn

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

This transaction estimates the Mercedes team at £4.6 billion – a record for a Formula 1 squad – following McLaren was appraised at £3.5 billion in an adjustment to ownership structure last September.

The Austrian executive, who owns one-third of the Mercedes F1 operation, would sell a shareholding approximately five percent.

Wolff, aged 53 will remain as team boss and CEO should the deal proceed.

Ownership Structure

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

An official representative stated: "We will be making no official statement on this. The governance of the team will remain unaltered, and each shareholder are fully committed to the ongoing success of the brand in Formula One."

Valuation Growth

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

The rise demonstrates the expansion in market values of F1 teams recently due to the growing popularity of the sport around the world.

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

The film represents the actor's top-grossing movie and the most successful sports film to date.

Current Standings

The Mercedes team are second in the team standings, behind McLaren Racing, with three Grands Prix remaining this season.

Mercedes' primary racer British driver George Russell has secured victory in 2 of the 21 races this year and is in fourth place in the drivers' championship after McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

The team secured a record eight straight constructors' championships and seven drivers' titles, six won by Lewis Hamilton and one by Nico Rosberg, between 2014 to 2021.