What made Toto Wolff pull the plug on Mercedes’ sailing and consulting plans?

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has confirmed that Mercedes is shutting down its plans in America's Cup sailing and technology consulting as the team prioritises the Formula 1 season this year. 

Speaking to Forbes about the news, the Mercedes CEO and team chief was open about why the Brackley outfit has chosen to abandon these programmes. 

“We don’t want to do this anymore. We’re a Formula 1 racing team. We don’t want to go sailing. We don’t want to do any other sports. Complete focus [must be] on only Formula 1," he confirmed. 

Mercedes was going to leverage its Applied Science division, launched in 2019 as a separate business under the team's umbrella, to deliver in competitive sailing. It was to use the team's engineering and aerodynamics performance, as well as its strong simulation and manufacturing infrastructure, to deliver on its partnership with INEOS. 

Cycling joined the news, again partnering with Team INEOS. 

“Tapping into the unrivalled expertise and success of the Mercedes Formula 1 team to support our sporting ambitions across sailing and cycling is an exciting proposition for us,” said Sir Jim Ratcliffe, founder and chairman of the organisation at the time. 

“As with cycling and sailing, Formula 1 is a sport that successfully blends human and machine performance, so we are in a strong position to learn from each other. Collaboration and innovation is a key part of success across our sports teams, which is strengthened by this partnership with Mercedes.”

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, CEO, INEOS

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

Mercedes had assigned engineers across the projects, and with the brand eventually evolving to INEOS Britannia, it became a joint push to return Britain to the top of the Cup. The team reached the final of the 37th America's Cup in Barcelona in 2024, but lost to New Zealand. The following year, INEOS withdrew from the challenge. 

"The agreement that had been reached with Athena Racing would have allowed both parties to compete in the next Cup but it depended on a rapid resolution," INEOS confirmed in April last year. "INEOS Britannia had agreed the substantive terms very quickly, but Athena has failed to bring the agreement to a timely conclusion."

With a raft of regulation changes coming in 2026, Wolff is keen to maintain focus on what's currently important. 

“[The ground effect era] was the first time that we didn’t get it right. [The 2026 regulation change] is what Formula 1 stands for: innovation, high-tech, and being the fastest laboratory in the world.”