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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is in advanced talks to sell part of his ownership stake in the Mercedes F1 outfit.

This transaction estimates the Mercedes team at £4.6 billion – an unprecedented figure for a Formula 1 squad – after McLaren was appraised at £3.5bn in an adjustment to corporate structure last September.

The Austrian executive, who owns a 33% stake of Mercedes F1, plans to divest a stake approximately 5%.

Wolff, aged 53 would stay on as team boss and chief executive officer should the deal proceed.

Ownership Breakdown

The other shareholders in the team are Mercedes and industrial group Ineos, who each also own a third of the company.

An official representative said: "We are providing no official statement on the matter. The governance of the team stays unchanged, and each shareholder are dedicated to the ongoing success of the brand in Formula One."

Valuation Increase

This arrangement would represent a significant increase in worth of the Mercedes team since Ineos bought its share for £208m in 2022.

The rise demonstrates the growth in valuations of F1 teams recently due to the growing popularity of Formula 1 globally.

This was also seen in the box-office performance of the F1 movie starring Hollywood star Brad Pitt, which was released in summer 2023 and earned more than $630m (£458 million) at cinemas worldwide.

It is the actor's top-grossing film and the highest-earning sports film to date.

Current Standings

The Mercedes team are runner-up in the constructors' championship, behind McLaren, with three races remaining this season.

Mercedes' primary racer George Russell has secured victory in 2 of the 21 grands prix this year and is in fourth place in the individual standings after McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

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