Wolff in talks to sell slice of Mercedes F1 stake at record valuation

In what could mark one of Formula 1’s most eye-catching financial moves of the year, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff is reportedly in advanced talks to sell a portion of his 33% stake in the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team.

The potential deal, first reported by sports business website Sportico, is said to value the storied outfit at around $6 billion – a record for an F1 team and a significant leap from the sport’s last major transaction.

According to Sportico’s sources, the deal involves a “mid-single-digit” stake being sold through Wolff’s investment company, which holds the shares in the Mercedes F1 team. The identity of the buyer remains undisclosed.

Should the deal go through, it would eclipse the $4.7 billion valuation set by McLaren’s recent minority stake sale to Mumtalakat and CYVN – further evidence of Formula 1’s skyrocketing commercial worth.

Mercedes declined to comment when reached by Sportico, saying only that “the governance of the team will remain unchanged,” and that all three shareholders – Mercedes-Benz, Toto Wolff, and Ineos –remain fully committed to the team’s long-term success.

Each entity currently holds an equal 33% ownership stake, a structure in place since Ineos’ entry in 2022 under billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.

The Brackley-based outfit continues to lead the financial pack in Formula 1, recording $812 million in revenue in 2024, the highest among all teams. Wolff himself reportedly earned over $50 million in salary and dividends from his stake last year.

Why Now? Timing, Cash – and Questions

While Wolff’s reported sale is believed to be modest in size, the timing has raised eyebrows. Why would the Austrian executive – who has become synonymous with Mercedes’ modern F1 dominance – part with even a fraction of his equity in such a lucrative enterprise?

The move could be a simple matter of portfolio management. With Mercedes’ valuation soaring to record heights, Wolff might be looking to unlock liquidity for other investments while prices are near their peak.

One wonders, however, if this could be an early sign that the 52-year-old is gradually preparing to reduce his exposure to Formula 1, particularly after more than a decade at the helm.

Wolff joined Mercedes in 2013 after a brief stint as an investor in Williams Racing, where he cut his teeth in F1 management. His initial investment in Mercedes – valued then at about $165 million—proved extraordinarily prescient.

• Read also: McLaren Racing completes stake sale at $4.1 billion valuation!

Under his leadership, the team dominated the sport from 2014 to 2021, capturing eight consecutive constructors’ titles and six drivers’ championships with Lewis Hamilton.

Whether Wolff’s minor stake sale signals the start of a gradual transition – or simply a smart bit of financial housekeeping – remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: even a small slice of Mercedes F1 has never been worth more.

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