For all the talk of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton commanding hefty salaries in Formula One, the real money appears to be with the team owners, as Mercedes’ Toto Wolff is in advanced negotiations to sell part of his stake in the iconic racing outfit, which could fetch him billions.
According to reports, the Mercedes Team Principal currently owns a 33% share in the team, whose valuation could rise to as much as $6 billion.
According to the Financial Times and Sportico, Toto Wolff is looking to sell around 5% of his share to Crowdstrike CEO George Kurtz, making him a small partner alongside Mercedes-Benz and Jim Ratcliffe’s petrochemicals giant Ineos, who each hold 33%. If Toto decides to sell his entire share, it could fetch him close to $1.95 billion against his $30 million investment.
Despite the consternation from fans, sources have confirmed that the Austrian would remain in his dual role as team principal and head of Mercedes motorsport, positions that have seen the team dominate F1 since its entry onto the grid.
Crowdstrike, a global cybersecurity firm, is already a visible partner of Mercedes F1, with its branding featured prominently on cars and driver apparel.
Mercedes, once the undisputed powerhouse of Formula One with eight consecutive constructors’ titles between 2014 and 2021, currently sit second in the 2025 standings after 21 of 24 rounds. Their customer team McLaren, powered by Mercedes engines, has clinched the constructors’ crown for the second year running and is on course to secure the drivers’ championship as well through Lando Norris.
The valuation of Mercedes at $6 billion comes on the heels of McLaren Racing’s $5 billion benchmark deal last year, when Bahrain’s Mumtalakat and Abu Dhabi’s CYVN Holdings took full ownership of the reigning champions.
Formula One team valuations have skyrocketed in recent years, driven by the sport’s global boom in popularity.
With Mercedes now valued higher than ever, Toto Wolff’s move could mark another turning point in the sport’s financial history, one that reflects Formula One’s transformation from niche racing to mainstream global entertainment.