Mercedes Set to Break F1 Revenue Records with Huge Milestone

Mercedes positions to become Formula 1’s first $1bn-revenue team as early as 2026, after posting £633.378m in revenue for 2025, equivalent to just over $846m.

The total edges up from £632.117m in 2024, with growth driven primarily by stronger sponsorship and licensing, which contribute £415m of 2025 income.

The accounts reflect F1’s prize money lag, paid a year in arrears. Mercedes’ fourth place in the 2024 constructors’ standings limits 2025 prize receipts.

The 2025 runners-up finish should lift prize payments in the 2026 accounts, while bonus costs linked to that result are recognised in 2025.

Operating profit improves from £156.152m to £166.707m, aided by a lower driver salary bill following Lewis Hamilton’s exit to Ferrari and the promotion of rookie Kimi Antonelli.

Antonelli, now in his second F1 season and leading the drivers’ championship, front-loads Mercedes’ narrative and commercial pull, alongside new partners Adidas, Meta AI, and Nasdaq. Read more on Antonelli’s early impact.

That momentum is reinforced by a high-profile deal with Microsoft, valued at around $60m per season, strengthening the roster of 24 premium global partners.

Mercedes trims non-core activity in 2025, ending its customer partnership with Aston Martin and withdrawing from the America’s Cup after INEOS steps back, signalling renewed focus on F1 performance.

Leadership messaging from the camp, including insights from Toto Wolff and George Russell, underlines a sharpened competitive direction.

The route to $1bn hinges on a larger share of commercial rights income in 2026. If current form translates into the constructors’ title, that uplift becomes more likely.

External risks persist. The cancellation of Bahrain and Saudi rounds earlier this year, plus uncertainty over Qatar and Abu Dhabi, could remove tens of millions from commercial rights income.

Even so, Mercedes’ growing sponsor base and improved cost profile provide resilience, with on-track performance and commercial execution pulling in the same direction.

The financial trajectory reflects F1’s expanding scale and Mercedes’ ability to convert competitiveness into revenue, while managing the timing quirks of the prize distribution model.

With sustained results and careful commercial curation, the team remains well placed to set a new benchmark for F1 operations.

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James William

James William covers the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, from the Rolex 24 at Daytona to sprint-race formats. His reports include prototype performance reviews, GT class battles, and pit-stop strategy insights for endurance-racing fans.

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