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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is in advanced talks to sell a portion of his ownership stake in the Mercedes Formula 1 team.

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

The Austrian executive, who owns a 33% stake of the Mercedes F1 operation, plans to divest a shareholding in the region of 5%.

Wolff, aged 53 would stay on as team principal and CEO should the deal proceed.

Shareholder Structure

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

A Mercedes spokesperson stated: "We will be making no comment on the matter. The management structure of the team stays unaltered, and each shareholder are dedicated to continued achievements of Mercedes-Benz in F1."

Financial Increase

The deal signifies a significant increase in value of the Mercedes team since Ineos acquired its share for £208m in 2022.

The rise reflects the growth in market values of Formula 1 outfits recently due to the growing popularity of the sport around the world.

This was also seen in the success of the F1 movie featuring Brad Pitt, which was released in summer 2023 and earned more than $630m (£458m) at the box office.

The film represents Pitt's most successful movie and the highest-earning sports film to date.

Current Standings

Mercedes are runner-up in the constructors' championship, trailing McLaren, with three Grands Prix left this season.

Mercedes' primary racer British driver George Russell has won two of the 21 grands prix this year and is fourth in the individual standings after McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

Mercedes won a record eight straight constructors' championships and seven driver championships, six won by Lewis Hamilton and one by Nico Rosberg, between 2014 to 2021.