Wolff Commits to Long-Term Mercedes Future Despite Stake Sale
Toto Wolff confirms his lifelong commitment to Mercedes and F1, despite selling a 15% personal stake to partner George Kurtz. He states success, not profit, drives him and sees his role evolving but his involvement remaining long-term as the team prepares for 2026.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has reaffirmed his long-term commitment to Formula 1 and the team, stating he sees himself involved for life despite recently selling a portion of his personal stake. The Austrian, who joined the team in 2012, emphasized that the pursuit of success, not profit, remains his primary motivation.
Why it matters:
Wolff's declaration of long-term intent provides crucial stability for Mercedes as the team navigates a competitive slump and prepares for the major 2026 regulation overhaul. His continued involvement, whether in an executive or shareholder role, signals a sustained commitment to returning the team to championship-winning form, a process that may extend beyond the current car development cycle.
The details:
- Wolff recently sold 15% of his personal stake in the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team's holding company to American billionaire and existing partner George Kurtz, founder of CrowdStrike. This transaction reduces Wolff's personal share from 33% to 28%.
- In an interview with The Telegraph, Wolff outlined his vision, stating, "In one way or another, yes, because Susie and I have ownership of the team. It’s our sport, it’s our niche." He acknowledged his role might evolve from executive to non-executive or board director but confirmed his involvement is "long-term."
- He humorously noted the difficulty of fully disengaging, suggesting he would become "the annoying shareholder on the sofa who in hindsight would have taken better decisions."
- Wolff also doubled down on his earlier technical claim regarding the 2026 cars, reiterating that with full energy deployment on a straight, the next-generation cars could theoretically reach 400 km/h (approximately 249 mph).
The big picture:
The stake sale to an existing partner like Kurtz is seen less as a step back and more as a strategic business move, bringing in a known entity while allowing Wolff to maintain significant influence. His comments come at a time when Mercedes is rumored to be well-advanced in developing its 2026 power unit, a critical component for the new regulations. Wolff's enduring presence is viewed as key to guiding the team through this transitional period and back to the front of the grid.