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

The deal 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 ownership structure last September.

Wolff, who owns a 33% stake of the Mercedes F1 operation, would sell a shareholding approximately 5%.

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

Ownership Structure

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

A Mercedes spokesperson said: "We are providing no comment on the matter. The management structure of the team stays unchanged, and all three partners are fully committed to the ongoing success of Mercedes-Benz in Formula One."

Valuation Growth

The deal would represent a substantial rise in value of the Mercedes team since Ineos Group acquired its share for £208 million in 2022.

This surge demonstrates the growth in valuations of Formula 1 outfits in the past few years as a consequence of the increasing appeal of Formula 1 around the world.

This trend was evident with the success of the Formula 1 film featuring Brad Pitt, which was released last summer and earned over $630 million (£458m) at cinemas worldwide.

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

Present Standings

Mercedes are runner-up in the constructors' championship, trailing McLaren Racing, with three races remaining this season.

Their lead driver British driver George Russell has won two of the 21 races this year 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 record eight straight constructors' championships and seven driver championships, six won by Lewis Hamilton and one by Nico Rosberg, from 2014 to 2021.