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Toto Wolff is in final negotiations to sell part of his shareholding in the Mercedes F1 outfit.

This transaction values Mercedes at £4.6 billion – an unprecedented figure for a Formula 1 squad – following the McLaren team were valued at £3.5bn in a change of corporate structure last September.

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

Wolff, aged 53 would stay on as team principal and chief executive officer if the sale goes through.

Ownership Structure

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

A Mercedes spokesperson said: "We will be making no official statement on the matter. The governance of Mercedes F1 will remain unaltered, and each shareholder are fully committed to continued achievements of Mercedes-Benz in F1."

Financial Increase

This arrangement signifies a significant increase in worth of the Mercedes team since Ineos acquired its stake for £208m in 2022.

The rise demonstrates the expansion in valuations of F1 teams recently due to the growing popularity of the sport globally.

This trend was evident with the box-office performance of the F1 movie featuring Hollywood star Brad Pitt, which debuted in summer 2023 and has grossed more than $630 million (£458 million) at cinemas worldwide.

It is the actor's top-grossing film and the most successful sports film to date.

Present Standings

Mercedes are second in the team standings, behind McLaren, with three Grands Prix remaining this season.

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

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