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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is in final negotiations to offload part of his shareholding in the Mercedes Formula 1 team.

This transaction values Mercedes at £4.6 billion – an unprecedented figure for an F1 team – after McLaren were valued at £3.5 billion in an adjustment to corporate structure last September.

Wolff, who owns one-third of the Mercedes F1 operation, would sell a shareholding in the region of 5%.

The 53-year-old would stay on as team principal and CEO if the sale goes through.

Ownership Breakdown

Remaining partners in the team are Mercedes-Benz and chemicals giant Ineos, who both hold one-third of the enterprise.

A Mercedes spokesperson stated: "We are providing no comment on this. The management structure of Mercedes F1 will remain unchanged, and each shareholder are dedicated to continued achievements of the brand in F1."

Financial Growth

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

This surge demonstrates the growth in valuations of F1 teams recently due to the increasing appeal of Formula 1 around the world.

This trend was evident with the box-office performance of the Formula 1 film starring Brad Pitt, which was released last summer and earned more than $630 million (£458m) at cinemas worldwide.

The film represents the actor's top-grossing movie and the highest-earning sports movie ever released.

Current Performance

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

Their lead driver George Russell has won 2 of the 21 grands prix so far and is in fourth place in the drivers' championship behind McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

The team secured a record eight consecutive constructors' championships and seven driver championships, six for Lewis Hamilton and one by Nico Rosberg, from 2014 to 2021.