Toto Wolff in advanced talks to sell part of his Mercedes F1 stake, reports say
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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff owns a 33 per cent stake in Mercedes F1 , as do Mercedes-Benz and Ineos.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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- Toto Wolff is reportedly in talks to sell part of his Mercedes F1 stake, valuing the team at a record US$6 billion.
- The investor would acquire a "mid-single-digit stake," around 5 per cent, while Wolff remains team principal.
- Mercedes affirms the team's governance will remain unchanged; all partners are committed to F1 success.
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LONDON – Toto Wolff is in advanced talks to sell part of his stake in Mercedes F1 to CrowdStrike chief executive officer George Kurtz in a deal that would value the Formula One team at a record US$6 billion (S$7.82 billion), the Financial Times (FT) reported on Nov 11.
Wolff, Mercedes-Benz and Jim Ratcliffe’s petrochemicals giant Ineos currently each hold 33 per cent stakes.
Mercedes would not comment on the report but said “the governance of the team will remain unchanged and all three partners are fully committed to the ongoing success of Mercedes-Benz in Formula One”. There was no comment from other named parties.
The FT and Sportico, which first reported the talks, indicated Wolff – who serves as team principal and head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport – planned to bring an outside investor into the holding company owning his stake. According to the FT, the investor would take about 5 per cent in the team, with Wolff remaining in his roles.
Sportico spoke of a “mid-single-digit stake”.
Global cybersecurity technology company CrowdStrike is a Mercedes team partner, with its branding on cars and driver apparel. Kurtz is a keen sports car racer who has competed at Le Mans and other endurance events.
Mercedes won eight constructors’ titles in a row from 2014 to 2021 and are second in the 2025 standings after 21 of 24 rounds.
McLaren, who use Mercedes engines, have clinched the constructors’ crown for the second year in a row and look set to add the drivers’ title as well.
Bahrain’s Mumtalakat and Abu Dhabi’s CYVN Holdings took full ownership of McLaren Racing on Sept 2 in a deal one informed source said at the time valued the champions at US$5 billion and set the benchmark.
F1 team valuations have soared, fuelled by the sport’s rapid growth in popularity thanks to Netflix docuseries Drive To Survive and Apple’s F1 movie, since the days when owning a team was a fast way to lose money.
In 2009, Honda famously sold their team to principal Ross Brawn, leader of a management buyout after the Japanese withdrew, for £1 (S$1.70). Brawn led the team to the 2009 championship, with Jenson Button taking the drivers’ crown.
Renault also reportedly bought the struggling Lotus team for the same amount in 2015.
They now compete as Alpine with celebrity shareholders, including Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds and National Football League stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. Alpine were valued at around US$900 million after the investor group took a 24 per cent equity stake in the team for €200 million (S$301.7 million) in 2023.
Meanwhile, Red Bull’s two F1 teams will hold a joint-launch in Detroit on Jan 15, 2026, to mark their new Ford engine partnership, they announced Nov 11. F1’s first 2026 test is scheduled for Jan 26 to 30 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. REUTERS
