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

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

Wolff, who holds one-third of Mercedes F1, plans to divest a stake in the region of five percent.

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

Ownership Breakdown

Remaining partners in the team are Mercedes-Benz and industrial group Ineos, who both hold one-third of the company.

A Mercedes spokesperson said: "We are providing no official statement on the matter. The management structure of the team will remain unchanged, and all three partners are dedicated to continued achievements of the brand in Formula One."

Financial Increase

The deal signifies a substantial rise in value of the Mercedes team since Ineos acquired its stake for £208 million in 2022.

This surge reflects the growth in valuations of F1 teams in the past few years as a consequence of the increasing appeal of Formula 1 around the world.

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

It is the actor's top-grossing movie and the most successful sports movie ever released.

Present Performance

Mercedes are second in the constructors' championship, trailing 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 drivers' championship behind McLaren drivers 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.