Toto Wolff is on the verge of selling a portion of his Mercedes shares. The team principal currently owns a third of the German Formula 1 team. The value of the Silberpfeile is estimated at 5.1 billion euros – a record for a Formula 1 team. Wolff is reportedly considering selling a stake of about five percent, although he will remain as CEO and team principal. The power dynamics within the team will therefore remain unchanged.
The Mercedes Formula 1 team is equally owned by 53-year-old Toto Wolff, Mercedes-Benz, and chemical giant INEOS. Multiple sources report that the Austrian now wants to sell only a small portion of his shares. “We will not comment on this,” a spokesperson told BBC Sport. “The team’s management remains unchanged, and all three partners remain fully committed to Mercedes’ ongoing success in Formula 1.”
Billion-Dollar Growth
The alleged deal would represent a significant increase in value for the team. When INEOS acquired 33 percent of the shares three years ago, the company reportedly paid around 236 million euros. The current billion-euro valuation not only reflects the team’s sporting success but also the rapidly growing commercial value of Formula 1. This makes teams increasingly attractive to investors.
Toto Wolff reportedly bought into Mercedes in 2013 for about 140 million euros. Under his leadership, the racing team grew into one of the most successful teams in Formula 1 history. With Lewis Hamilton as the figurehead, the Silberpfeile won eight constructors’ titles in a row. Partly thanks to his share package in Mercedes and the Formula 1 division, Wolff was officially declared a billionaire in 2023.
