Toto Wolff has sold a part of his minority stake to CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz making him one of Mercedes F1 co-owners, the Formula 1 team has confirmed.
The widely recognized team principal, CEO and a key co-owner has sold a 15 percent minority stake in his holding company to George Kurtz, the founder and CEO of cybersecurity giant CrowdStrike.
This transaction represents a strategic move that not only impacts the team’s ownership structure but also broadens the involvement of the technology sector in Formula 1, marking a new chapter in the evolution of one of the sport’s most successful entities.
The details of the deal reveal that Kurtz has acquired 15 percent of the company owned by Toto Wolff, Motorsport Investment Limited, which is based in Guernsey and holds a third of the total shares of the Mercedes F1 team.
Kurtz’s stake effectively translates to an approximate 5 percent ownership in the overall Mercedes F1 team.
The other two major shareholders remain Mercedes-Benz itself and British chemical manufacturing conglomerate INEOS, with each holding roughly a third of the shares.
While this reallocation slightly reduces Wolff’s total ownership percentage, it doesn’t affect his controlling influence or his operational roles within the team. The Austrian will continue as CEO and team principal, maintaining his decisive leadership and board-level voting power at Mercedes F1.
George Kurtz’s entry into the Mercedes F1 co-ownership circle is more than a mere investment; it marks the cementing of a long-standing collaborative relationship between CrowdStrike and Mercedes, which began in 2019 when the tech company became a global partner of the team.
Kurtz is not only an executive but also an accomplished endurance racer with multiple series championships and victories at prestigious events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Indianapolis 8 Hour.
His dual expertise in cybersecurity and motorsport brings a unique perspective and is expected to heavily influence the team’s technology and data strategies.
In his newly created role as Technology Advisor to the Mercedes F1 team, Kurtz joins the team’s strategic steering committee alongside Chairman of Mercedes-Benz Ola Källenius, Chairman of INEOS Jim Ratcliffe and Toto Wolff.
Kurtz’s role will be pivotal in expanding the team’s footprint within the fast-evolving US and global technology sectors, fostering innovation that will help Mercedes regain its competitive momentum on and off the racetrack.
“Winning in racing and cybersecurity requires speed, precision, and innovation. Milliseconds matter. Execution counts. Data wins,” he said.
“Technology is reshaping competitive advantage and human capability everywhere, including motorsport. I’m excited to help the team securely accelerate forward.”
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Toto Wolff added: “George’s background is unusual in its breadth: he’s a racer, a loyal sporting ambassador for Mercedes-AMG, and an exceptional entrepreneur.
“He understands both the demands of racing and the realities of building and scaling technology businesses. That combination brings specific insight that is increasingly relevant to the future of Formula 1.”
The history behind this change highlights the significance of Wolff’s original investment in the team back in 2013, when he took a 30 percent ownership stake in Mercedes which was valued at around $165 million.
Over the past 13 years, the value of his stake has soared with recent estimates suggesting the entire team is now valued at approximately $6 billion.
This monumental increase reflects the massive growth and success of Mercedes Formula 1 both on and off the track, solidifying its status as one of the sport’s most valuable and technologically advanced teams.
The ownership update comes at a critical juncture for the Brackley-based outfit as it looks to bounce back to championship winning form.
The team is currently aiming to dethrone Ferrari from second place in the 2025 F1 Constructors’ standings at this weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.
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