Mercedes F1 valued at record £4.6bn as Toto Wolff eyes partial stake sale

Mercedes F1 valued at record £4.6bn as Toto Wolff eyes partial stake sale

Mercedes Formula 1 team has been valued at a historic £4.6 billion, surpassing McLaren's £3.5 billion valuation in September, as team principal Toto Wolff enters advanced negotiations to sell a small portion of his stake, according to reports verified by BBC Sport.

Deal structure and leadership continuity

Wolff, 53, currently owns one-third of Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team alongside equal shareholders Mercedes-Benz and British chemicals conglomerate Ineos. The proposed sale involves roughly 5% of his stake, though he would retain his roles as team principal and CEO if the transaction completes.

A Mercedes spokesperson declined to comment but affirmed that "the governance of the team will remain unchanged," with all three partners "fully committed" to the team's future in Formula 1.

Surge in F1 team valuations

The £4.6 billion figure marks a dramatic rise since Ineos acquired its 33% stake for £208 million in 2022. Analysts attribute the surge to Formula 1's expanding global popularity, fueled by record viewership and cultural moments like the 2024 Brad Pitt film F1, which grossed over $630 million worldwide-the highest-ever for a sports movie and Pitt's most successful box-office release.

On-track performance

Mercedes currently sits second in the constructors' championship, trailing McLaren with three races remaining in the 2025 season. Lead driver George Russell has secured two Grand Prix victories this year and ranks fourth in the drivers' standings, behind McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

The team's dominance between 2014-2021 included an unprecedented eight consecutive constructors' titles and seven drivers' championships-six won by Lewis Hamilton and one by Nico Rosberg.

Industry context

If finalized, the deal would underscore the financial transformation of F1 teams, now viewed as high-growth assets amid the sport's commercial boom. McLaren's £3.5 billion valuation in September had previously set the benchmark.