Kurtz is not positioning himself to be Wolff's successor.

Kurtz is not positioning himself to be Wolff's successor.

      Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has sold a portion of his one-third stake in the team to George Kurtz, the founder of CrowdStrike, in a deal that sets a new record valuation for the former world champions. Billionaire Kurtz has purchased 15 percent of Wolff’s 33 percent holding, which translates to about 5 percent of the entire team. Forbes reports that the transaction values Mercedes at an astonishing $6 billion. BBC estimates the cost of the stake at approximately $300 million.

      The team's governance structure remains the same, with Wolff, Mercedes-Benz, and INEOS each retaining one-third ownership, and the leadership "remains unaffected" by the sale. Kurtz, a long-time partner with Mercedes through CrowdStrike, will join the team’s strategic steering committee alongside Wolff, Mercedes chairman Ola Kallenius, and INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe. He will also serve as a technology advisor.

      In remarks to reporters, the American entrepreneur and amateur racer stated that the valuation aligns with market trends and anticipates further growth. "We see significant opportunities to expand the sport, especially in the US and particularly in the technology sector where we can attract more sponsors," he commented.

      Kurtz emphasized the increasing interest from female fans and the success of initiatives like Drive to Survive and the Brad Pitt F1 film as indicators that the US market remains underexploited. "It’s a thriving business," he remarked. "When you have a thriving business with greater potential—especially in the US—valuations will rise. Can it reach the same level as the NBA or NFL? I believe so. That’s why I invested."

      He confirmed that all shareholders were informed about the transaction throughout its course and clarified that he does not see himself as Wolff’s successor. "My main focus is CrowdStrike—this is my primary role," Kurts explained. "Toto is the person in charge; he is the leader." He refrained from commenting on any potential future increase in his stake in Mercedes.

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Charles Leclerc has sought to alleviate concerns regarding his future with Ferrari, following team president John Elkann's recent comments urging the team to "talk less," which ignited considerable media speculation and rekindled rumors linking the Monegasque driver to Aston Martin for 2027. During a conversation in Las Vegas, Leclerc dismissed the surrounding drama, asserting that Elkann's remarks had been misinterpreted. "People's interpretations are out of my control, and I'm not interested in wasting my time on them," he stated. "John reaches out to me after every Grand Prix, and we discussed various topics, including what he intended to convey. His aim was to be constructive and motivate the team to enhance performance." Leclerc emphasized that the comments were not directed specifically at him. "The criticism wasn’t about the incidents in Brazil. It was more broad," he explained. "John expresses his thoughts openly. He has always been transparent with me, regardless of the circumstances. We both share a deep passion for Ferrari. His objective is to help us all perform at our best. I align with him on that." "John’s intentions were positive. He sought to energize everyone," Leclerc added. The 2025 season has seen him as Ferrari's standout performer, while speculation persists that Aston Martin, which is preparing a Newey-designed, Honda-powered vehicle, has reached out to his manager, Nicolas Todt, about future possibilities. When asked if Elkann’s tone bothered him, Leclerc again minimized the situation. "The best course of action is for me to focus on the track and give it my all. I’ve always done that and will keep doing so." Lewis Hamilton, whose arrival at Ferrari has drawn increased scrutiny due to underperformance, reacted defensively to Elkann's comments. "I know what John is planning, which is why I didn’t focus on the remark," Hamilton said. "We communicate several times a week. It's about uniting the team." However, he reacted strongly to the suggestion that he should "talk less." "I can't devote any more focus to my job than I already do," he responded. "I think about my work as I fall asleep and when I wake up—sometimes it's even in my dreams. Since joining Ferrari, I've spent more time at the factory than at any of my prior teams." Hamilton added, "I have a good relationship with John. We communicate regularly." Charles Leclerc has sought to alleviate concerns regarding his future with Ferrari, following team president John Elkann's recent comments urging the team to "talk less," which ignited considerable media speculation and rekindled rumors linking the Monegasque driver to Aston Martin for 2027. During a conversation in Las Vegas, Leclerc dismissed the surrounding drama, asserting that Elkann's remarks had been misinterpreted. "People's interpretations are out of my control, and I'm not interested in wasting my time on them," he stated. "John reaches out to me after every Grand Prix, and we discussed various topics, including what he intended to convey. His aim was to be constructive and motivate the team to enhance performance." Leclerc emphasized that the comments were not directed specifically at him. "The criticism wasn’t about the incidents in Brazil. It was more broad," he explained. "John expresses his thoughts openly. He has always been transparent with me, regardless of the circumstances. We both share a deep passion for Ferrari. His objective is to help us all perform at our best. I align with him on that." "John’s intentions were positive. He sought to energize everyone," Leclerc added. The 2025 season has seen him as Ferrari's standout performer, while speculation persists that Aston Martin, which is preparing a Newey-designed, Honda-powered vehicle, has reached out to his manager, Nicolas Todt, about future possibilities. When asked if Elkann’s tone bothered him, Leclerc again minimized the situation. "The best course of action is for me to focus on the track and give it my all. I’ve always done that and will keep doing so." Lewis Hamilton, whose arrival at Ferrari has drawn increased scrutiny due to underperformance, reacted defensively to Elkann's comments. "I know what John is planning, which is why I didn’t focus on the remark," Hamilton said. "We communicate several times a week. It's about uniting the team." However, he reacted strongly to the suggestion that he should "talk less." "I can't devote any more focus to my job than I already do," he responded. "I think about my work as I fall asleep and when I wake up—sometimes it's even in my dreams. Since joining Ferrari, I've spent more time at the factory than at any of my prior teams." Hamilton added, "I have a good relationship with John. We communicate regularly." 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Kurtz is not positioning himself to be Wolff's successor.

Formula 1 | Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has sold a portion of his one-third ownership in the team to CrowdStrike founder George Kurtz - in a deal that validates a (…)