Toto Wolff Set to Sell Part of Mercedes F1 Stake in Deal Valuing Team at £4.6bn
Mercedes Formula 1 team boss Toto Wolff is reportedly close to selling a portion of his stake in a deal that values the championship-winning outfit at £4.6 billion – the highest valuation ever recorded for an F1 team.
According to reports first published by Sportico and independently confirmed by the BBC, Wolff, who owns one-third of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, is in advanced discussions to sell around 5% of his shareholding. Despite the sale, the 53-year-old Austrian is expected to retain his roles as team principal and chief executive officer.
The remaining shares are split evenly between Mercedes-Benz and British chemical company Ineos, each holding one-third of the team. A Mercedes spokesperson declined to comment on the reported transaction but confirmed that the team’s governance structure would remain unchanged, with all partners committed to the ongoing success of Mercedes in Formula One.
The potential sale marks a dramatic rise in the team’s valuation since Ineos bought its stake for £208 million in 2022 — underscoring Formula 1’s soaring global appeal and investor interest. The sport’s popularity has surged in recent years, boosted by new audiences, streaming coverage, and the blockbuster F1 movie starring Brad Pitt, which grossed over $630 million (£458 million) at the global box office.
Mercedes currently sits second in the constructors’ standings, trailing McLaren with three races left this season. Lead driver George Russell has claimed two victories in 21 Grands Prix so far and is fourth in the drivers’ championship, behind McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Between 2014 and 2021, Mercedes dominated Formula 1, winning eight consecutive constructors’ titles and seven drivers’ championships – six with Lewis Hamilton and one with Nico Rosberg.
