Wolff reaffirms Mercedes loyalty: ‘No plan to leave my role’

Toto Wolff has quelled speculation about his future at Mercedes, insisting that his decision to sell a portion of his ownership in the Brackley squad has zero connection to his role as team principal.

The Austrian, who has steered the Silver Arrows since 2013, made it clear that he remains fully committed to the project – even if the balance sheet behind the scenes has shifted.

The questions came thick and fast in Las Vegas after Mercedes revealed Wolff had sold a 15% slice of his stake to CrowdStrike CEO and tech entrepreneur George Kurtz. With the team co-owned equally by Wolff, INEOS and Mercedes-Benz, the move sparked whispers about succession plans.

Wolff, however, swatted them aside.

A Commitment Reaffirmed

Speaking after last weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix, Wolff couldn’t have been more direct.

“I have no plan to sell the team or no plan to leave my role,” he told reporters.

He expanded on that stance, saying he remains energized by the work – despite Mercedes’ struggles in the ground-effect era.

“I’m actually in a good space and I’m enjoying it. And as long as I feel I’m contributing, and others feel that I’m contributing, then there’s no reason to think in that direction,” he said.

As for the share sale, Wolff said the motivation was strategic, not symbolic.

“What I did this week in my investment holding, I sold some shares to George, who is a racer, who is a tech entrepreneur, who is someone that is going to help us leverage the US market. That was the reason behind it and nothing else.”

Why Mercedes – and F1 – Will Keep On Growing

The sale comes at a time when Mercedes’ valuation has climbed to around $6 billion, reflecting Formula 1’s explosive growth since 2018.

From cost caps to Netflix’s Drive to Survive, the sport has transformed from a European-centric empire into a global entertainment juggernaut. Wolff believes the rising tide hasn’t crested yet.

“Yeah, I mean, if someone would have told us five years ago what the valuations would be, we would have never believed it,” he said.

“But it’s a simple ex-calculation of the profitability of the teams.”

He credited the financial regulations for stabilizing a once volatile business.

“Because of the cost cap, our business case changed fundamentally, rather than outspending each other. No matter what, we are simply, you know… protected us from ourselves.”

The new era, Wolff explained, has unlocked the kind of dependable growth major American sports franchises have enjoyed.

“We were able to increase the revenues and increase the free cash flows. And that put on the marginals that the industry has led us to these valuations.”

• Read also: Crowdstrike CEO Kurtz revealed as buyer of Mercedes stake

To underscore his point, he pointed to a famous NFL benchmark.

“Now, when you look at US-American teams, you know, the Dallas Cowboys five years ago were 3 billion, today they are 12,” he explained.

For Wolff, the trajectory is clear – and long-term.

“Because of the underlying figures that have changed. And that’s why I don’t know where the future leads us.

“If we continue to try to understand what makes a sport enjoyable and entertaining and putting up a great show, then there is no reason that the sport can’t continue to grow as it is.”

Whether Mercedes are winning titles or rebuilding for the next rules revolution in 2026, one thing is certain after Wolff’s Vegas clarifications: he’s not going anywhere.

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