Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team has strengthened its ownership group with the addition of George Kurtz, the CEO and founder of cybersecurity company CrowdStrike and a decorated endurance racer.
Kurtz has acquired a minority stake from Toto Wolff’s holding entity in a deal that values the F1 team at nearly six billion dollars, a figure that reflects the sport’s accelerating commercial growth.
Kurtz now holds fifteen percent of the Wolff-controlled company that owns one third of the team. The transaction, estimated at around three hundred million dollars, does not alter the team’s leadership structure. Wolff continues as co-owner, Team Principal and Chief Executive, alongside existing shareholders Mercedes-Benz and Ineos.
Along with his equity investment, Kurtz has been appointed technology advisor to the team and will join its strategic steering committee. He will work alongside Wolff, Mercedes-Benz chair Ola Källenius and Ineos chairman Jim Ratcliffe, focusing on innovation, data strategy and performance technology. The role builds on his existing relationship with the team through CrowdStrike, which has been a prominent partner since 2019.
Kurtz brings a rare dual identity as a tech founder and accomplished racer. He has secured class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 12 Hours of Sebring, Petit Le Mans, the Spa 24 Hours and multiple rounds of the Asia Le Mans Series and GT World Challenge America. His background aligns with Mercedes’ growing emphasis on advanced analytics, cyber-protection and digital performance systems that increasingly shape competitive margins in Formula One.
Speaking about his investment, Kurtz said, “Winning in racing and cybersecurity requires speed, precision, and innovation. Milliseconds matter. Execution counts. Data wins. Technology is reshaping competitive advantage and human capability everywhere, including motorsport. I’m excited to help the team securely accelerate forward.”
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 acquisition underscores F1’s rising appeal among American investors and its deepening ties with the technology sector. Kurtz has consistently highlighted the sport’s commercial momentum in the United States, where data-driven fan engagement and digital platforms are creating new revenue lines and younger audiences.
Mercedes has shown steady competitive improvement this season after grappling with the current generation of technical regulations. The team remains in pursuit of Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull while pushing an aggressive development programme aimed at re-establishing regular race-winning form.
Mercedes enter the final stretch of the season sitting second in the Teams’ Championship. Three race weekends remain, beginning with this week’s round in Las Vegas, where the team will aim to consolidate momentum under an expanded ownership group that now includes one of the global tech sector’s most influential leaders.
