Toto Wolff: Mercedes is "Only a Formula 1 Racing Team"

Mercedes is officially ending its involvement in sporting ventures outside of Formula 1, including its support for the America's Cup's INEOS Britannia team. Team principal Toto Wolff stated unequivocally that the Silver Arrows are 'a Formula One racing team' and will now dedicate all resources exclusively to their F1 program.

Why it matters:

This strategic shift signals an 'all-in' commitment from Mercedes as F1 enters a new, highly competitive era with its 2026 regulations. By consolidating its world-class engineering talent and financial resources, the team is aiming to reclaim its former dominance and ensure it is fully prepared to challenge Red Bull and other rivals. The move underscores the immense focus required to compete at the sharp end of the grid.

The details:

• Mercedes' involvement in sailing was handled through its Mercedes-AMG F1 Applied Science division, which provided advanced engineering expertise to the British challenge.
• The partnership supported the INEOS Britannia team across multiple campaigns, leading up to the 2021 and 2024 America's Cup editions.
• Wolff told Forbes: 'We don’t want to do this anymore... We don’t want to go sailing. We don’t want to do any other sports. Complete focus (must be) on only Formula One.'

What's next:

This renewed focus comes at a critical time, with the team preparing for the 2026 season, which features massive technical overhauls. Wolff recently hinted at this new direction, stating '2026 isn't just another season. It's the next generation.' The team's first tangible step will be the launch of its new W17 car on January 22, marking the beginning of this concentrated effort to return to the front of the grid.