🔗 Share this article Toto Wolff Preparing to Divest Stake Valuing Mercedes Formula 1 Team at £4.6 Billion Team Principal Wolff has guided the Mercedes team to record-breaking success in F1 Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is engaged in advanced talks to offload part of his shareholding in the Mercedes Formula 1 team. This transaction estimates the Mercedes team at £4.6bn – an unprecedented figure for an F1 team – following the McLaren team was appraised at £3.5 billion in an adjustment to ownership structure in September. The Austrian executive, who holds one-third of the Mercedes F1 operation, plans to divest a stake approximately five percent. Wolff, aged 53 will remain as team principal and chief executive officer should the deal proceed. Shareholder Breakdown Remaining partners in the team are Mercedes-Benz and industrial group Ineos, who both hold a third of the enterprise. A Mercedes spokesperson stated: "We are providing no comment on the matter. The governance of Mercedes F1 stays unaltered, and each shareholder are dedicated to continued achievements of the brand in Formula One." Valuation Increase This arrangement would represent a significant increase in worth of the Mercedes team after Ineos acquired its stake for £208m in 2022. The rise demonstrates the growth in market values of Formula 1 outfits in the past few years due to the growing popularity of Formula 1 globally. This trend was evident with the success of the Formula 1 film starring Hollywood star Brad Pitt, which was released in summer 2023 and earned more than $630m (£458m) at cinemas worldwide. It is Pitt's most successful film and the highest-earning sports film to date. Current Standings The Mercedes team are runner-up in the team standings, behind McLaren Racing, with three Grands Prix remaining in the current championship. Mercedes' primary racer George Russell has secured victory in two of the 21 grands prix so far and is fourth in the drivers' championship after McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen. The team secured a unprecedented eight straight team titles and seven drivers' titles, six won by Lewis Hamilton and one by Nico Rosberg, between 2014 to 2021.