Toto Wolff has dismissed rumours that Mercedes has been on the verge of splitting from Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS, the Formula 1 team’s part shareholder.
The Telegraph reported before the F1 75 live event at London’s O2 Arena that the Silver Arrows were seeking to buy out the chemical giant’s stake in the team and were engaged in “tense negotiations” with Ratcliffe.
INEOS shares an equal stake alongside Mercedes’ parent company Daimler and Wolff, the team boss of the motorsport organisation.
The German marque shocked fans by removing the red INEOS logo from the air intake above the driver’s head on its W16 livery.
Instead, the small INEOS logo on the inside of the front wing endplate was the only branding of the conglomerate to remain on the 2025 challenger.
Wolff, however, has denied reports of a split between Mercedes and INEOS, affirming that Ratcliffe remains one of the “three amigos” associated with the eight-time Constructors’ Champions.
“[It was] never a consideration,” Wolff told Sky Sports News at the live event.
“Jim Ratcliffe is one of us three amigos – Mercedes, Jim and I.
“We are never going to part ways, he’s been a great sponsor.
“We have had projects together, nothing you read in the news will change anything.”
A spokesperson for Mercedes told Crash.net: “There have been no discussions at any point of a shareholder change and sponsorship with Ineos is ongoing and stable.”
‘No truth’ in reports of Mercedes-INEOS split
It is believed that the rumours of a break-up between the F1 team and Ratcliffe’s company were wide of the mark.
This was confirmed before the W16 livery was unveiled, by Sky Sports News reporter Craig Slater.
“Sir Jim Ratcliffe is a one-third owner of that F1 team, and there was a story in The Telegraph that Daimler-Benz were looking at arranging some funds to buy Ratcliffe out of his ownership,” Slater said.
“Because perhaps he was not able to support the team via sponsorship, as he has done in previous years.
“Well, I’ve been in touch with Mercedes about this, and they assure me there is no truth in that story.
“There have been no discussions at any point of a shareholder change, and sponsorship with INEOS is ongoing and stable.
“That’s what the team are telling me.
George Russell spearheads the Mercedes fight for 2025, alongside Formula 2 graduate Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
The Italian youngster replaces the outgoing Lewis Hamilton, who announced his departure to Ferrari at the start of last year.
READ MORE: George Russell: Mercedes has avoided development ‘traps’ with 2025 F1 car
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