P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes is apparently set for a huge new sponsorship deal with Microsoft, purported to be one of the biggest in F1 right now.
Mercedes is poised to secure a substantial new sponsorship agreement with Microsoft, potentially one of the largest in Formula 1 at present. The team, entering 2026, boasts a range of sponsors from various major organizations, now including digital finance firm Nu. This partnership with Microsoft would mark Mercedes as the latest F1 team to collaborate with tech giants, following previous deals with Alpine, Lotus, and Renault. Sky Sports News has suggested the deal could be worth around $60 million annually, ranking it the third-largest in F1 behind Petronas and Red Bull with Oracle. Under Toto Wolff’s leadership, Mercedes has become highly marketable, with recent financial gains, including Wolff’s share sale to cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, enhancing the team’s position. Looking ahead to 2026, Mercedes is reportedly leveraging an engine regulation loophole for a potential power advantage, setting them up as early favorites with drivers George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
