It’s now official! George Kurtz takes over 15% of Toto Wolff’s personal stake: a new era begins for Mercedes, between investments and… future strategies (exit plans?).
George Kurtz, CEO and founder of CrowdStrike, is officially the new co-owner of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 Team. The entrepreneur has acquired 15% of Toto Wolff’s personal share, as announced on the team’s website — currently 2nd in the championship — taking on a key role also as Technology Advisor for the Brackley-based team.
What is CrowdStrike? The sector and value of the deal
CrowdStrike is a global leader in cybersecurity, known for protecting digital infrastructures of companies, governments, and organizations worldwide, through advanced cloud-based cybersecurity solutions leveraging artificial intelligence.
Kurtz’s entry marks a significant step change in the team’s ownership structure. In recent weeks, as GPKingdom previously reported, there had been talk of a limited 5% stake, while the actual 15% represents a much larger economic and strategic commitment, approaching values close to one billion euros. This shift in ownership weight could have significant implications for the team’s future direction.
Wolff, early signs of an exit?
For some time, discussions have been ongoing about a possible gradual downsizing of Toto Wolff’s role after more than a decade leading the Anglo-German team. The presence of a new strong partner in his personal share could be one of the first concrete signs of a planned transition, even without official indications of immediate changes in daily or technical management.
It is worth noting that Kurtz’s influence will not be limited to the financial side: his expertise in digital and cybersecurity could be crucial for developing new strategies for data collection, performance analysis, and technological optimization of the car.
The new corporate setup therefore opens interesting scenarios for Mercedes, both from a sporting and managerial perspective. The combination of the team’s technical and sporting know-how with Kurtz’s technological experience could mark the beginning of a renewal phase… and who knows, maybe the good old Toto will start thinking about retirement. Or is it too early?
Photo: Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
