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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 £3.5bn in an adjustment to corporate structure last September.

The Austrian executive, who holds one-third of Mercedes F1, would sell a shareholding approximately five percent.

The 53-year-old would stay on as team boss and CEO should the deal proceed.

Shareholder Structure

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

A Mercedes spokesperson stated: "We are providing no comment on the matter. The management structure of the team will remain unchanged, and each shareholder are dedicated to continued achievements of Mercedes-Benz in Formula One."

Financial Increase

The deal signifies a substantial rise in value of Mercedes F1 after Ineos Group acquired its share for £208m in 2022.

This surge reflects the expansion in valuations of Formula 1 outfits in the past few years due to the increasing appeal of the sport globally.

This was also seen in the success of the Formula 1 film featuring Brad Pitt, which debuted in summer 2023 and has grossed over $630m (£458 million) at the box office.

It is Pitt's most successful movie and the most successful sports movie ever released.

Present Standings

Mercedes are runner-up in the constructors' championship, behind McLaren Racing, with three Grands Prix remaining in the current championship.

Their lead driver British driver George Russell has won 2 of the 21 races so far and is fourth in the individual standings after McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen.

Mercedes secured a unprecedented eight consecutive constructors' championships and seven drivers' titles, six won by Lewis Hamilton and one for Nico Rosberg, from 2014 to 2021.