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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is engaged in advanced talks to sell part of his shareholding in the Mercedes F1 outfit.

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

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

Wolff, aged 53 would stay on as team boss and CEO if the sale goes through.

Ownership Breakdown

Remaining partners in Mercedes F1 are Mercedes-Benz and chemicals giant Ineos, who both hold a third of the enterprise.

A Mercedes spokesperson said: "We are providing no official statement on this. The management structure of the team will remain unchanged, and each shareholder are dedicated to continued achievements of the brand in F1."

Valuation Growth

This arrangement would represent a significant increase in value of Mercedes F1 after Ineos Group bought its share for £208m in 2022.

This surge reflects the expansion in valuations of Formula 1 outfits in the past few years due to the growing popularity of Formula 1 around the world.

This was also seen in the box-office performance of the Formula 1 film starring Hollywood star Brad Pitt, which was released in summer 2023 and has grossed over $630m (£458 million) at the box office.

It is Pitt's most successful film and the most successful sports film to date.

Present Standings

Mercedes 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 two of the 21 races this year and is fourth in the drivers' championship behind McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

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