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Toto Wolff And Jim Ratcliffe Profit Despite The Mercedes F1 Slump

Giancarlo Perlas October 13, 2023

Mercedes F1 Team, led by Toto Wolff, once dominated Formula 1, winning eight consecutive constructors’ championships from 2014 to 2021. However, their reign took a turn after 2021 when Red Bull’s Max Verstappen clinched the championship. Since then, Mercedes’ on-track performance has declined.

Mercedes F1 Toto Wolff And Jim Ratcliffe
Mercedes F1 Toto Wolff And Jim Ratcliffe (Image Source: Mercedes-Benz)

£75 Million Dividend Payout for Mercedes F1 Shareholders

Despite the slump in track performance, Mercedes F1 recently announced a substantial £75 million ($92 million) dividend payout to shareholders, a significant increase from the previous year’s £55 million ($67.5 million) according to a Fortune report. Heavily benefiting from this windfall are Mercedes Team Principal and CEO Toto Wolff and Jim Ratcliffe, a billionaire and Manchester United bidder, who both own a stake in the team.

Crunching Down the Financial Performance of Mercedes F1

In 2022, Mercedes finished third, with Lewis Hamilton in sixth place. Nevertheless, their financial performance remained strong, with a 24% revenue increase to nearly £474.6 million ($583 million) and profits soaring by over 30% to £89.7 million ($110 million).

However, their share of TV coverage dropped from 23.6% in 2021 to 15% in 2022, impacting their Advertising Value Equivalent (AVE), which fell by £654 million ($803 million) to £5.8 billion ($7.2 billion). AVE quantifies hypothetical ad costs in a similar TV context, potentially affecting sponsor appeal and future revenues.

Contributors to Mercedes F1’s Financial Success

Wolff attributed their financial success to Formula 1’s broader commercial growth, partly driven by the Netflix series “Drive to Survive,” which premiered in 2019. Additionally, Mercedes’ Applied Science division and sponsorships contributed to increased revenue.

Ratcliffe’s INEOS, a petrochemical firm, owns a one-third stake in Mercedes and is engaged in a bidding war for Manchester United. Whether Lewis Hamilton will be part of this venture remains uncertain.

Final Thoughts

Mercedes F1 may be facing on-track challenges, but its stakeholders, Toto Wolff and Jim Ratcliffe, continue to thrive. Their diversified financial approach and the overall growth of Formula 1 have cushioned the impact of their racing setbacks, highlighting their resilience in the world of sports.

About Author

Giancarlo Perlas

Giancarlo Perlas is an economist by profession with a career spanning nearly two decades. His professional journey has seen him assume vital roles in various government and private organizations, particularly in the blockchain and cryptocurrency sectors. Alongside his civic and corporate pursuits is his love for cars, particularly those made by Mercedes-Benz. In 2012, he found himself with like-minded individuals within BenzInsider. From then on, he used the platform as a way to share his passion with the automotive community. Follow his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/benzinsider, X (formerly Twitter) @giancarloperlas, and IG @benzinsider. View all posts by Giancarlo Perlas →

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