Toto Wolff - Photo: Race Pictures

F1 LIVE | Mercedes' new shareholder revealed, Stella receives answer at F1 Commission meeting?

07:00, 15 Nov

Updated: 07:28, 15 Nov

byNorberto Mujica

Welcome to another day of rapid F1 news, as GPblog fires up the engines to get you access to the best stories straight from the paddock!

LiveBlog

New Mercedes shareholder revealed as Wolff nears stake sale

Reports state that Toto Wolff is in advanced discussions to sell part of his stake in the Mercedes Formula 1 team, in a deal valuing the outfit at $6 billion. The Financial Times has identified the potential buyer as George Kurtz, co-founder and CEO of CrowdStrike, a long-standing Mercedes partner whose branding has appeared on the cars and team kit since 2019. CrowdStrike provides cybersecurity services across the team’s factory, trackside operations, and infrastructure.

Kurtz is also active in motorsport, having raced in categories such as GT World Challenge and IMSA, as well as competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Indianapolis 8 Hours. Mercedes told GPblog that the team’s governance will remain unchanged, with Mercedes-Benz, Wolff, and Ineos all remaining fully committed to its Formula 1 programme.

Stella's cost cap question answered at the F1 Commission meeting?

GPblog reports that McLaren did not raise the issue of Max Verstappen’s new Brazil GP engine costs at the F1 Commission meeting, despite earlier suggestions that Andrea Stella would question whether the power unit was included in the cost cap. Verstappen took a new engine for extra performance, and the rules state that the cost of a new power unit is counted within the cost cap.

GPblog understands, McLaren asked the FIA for clarification before the meeting. The FIA provided the same confirmation previously reported by GPblog: Verstappen’s engine was included in the cost cap. Following that clarification, McLaren decided not to bring the matter forward during the Commission meeting.

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