Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Mercedes Rakes in $800 Million as F1 Resurgence Fuels massive Profit Surge
Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Mercedes is back in a big way not just on the track, but on the balance sheet.

After a competitive resurgence in 2023 that saw them finish second in the Constructors’ Championship, the Mercedes Formula 1 has revealed a blockbuster financial year for 2024. Newly filed accounts show the team brought in $800 million, a 16 percent increase over the previous year — marking one of the most lucrative periods in the team’s history.

The jump in revenue came largely from increased commercial income, including sponsorships and licensing deals, which made up more than 60% of total revenue.

Mercedes also benefited from its stronger on-track performance, receiving a bigger slice of F1's prize money payout following their runner-up finish to Red Bull.

The team’s earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) jumped from $153.63 million to $216 million in 2024. After paying over $54 million in corporate taxes, the team was left with a net profit of $162 million nearly 50% higher than last year.

In recognition of this windfall, the team’s three shareholders — Mercedes-Benz Group, Toto Wolff, and Ineos — will receive a $168.75 million dividend split across two payouts.

Beyond raw financials, Mercedes also touted a staggering $5.7 billion in cumulative advertising value equivalent (AVE) for itself and its sponsors, thanks to four wins and five podiums in the 2024 campaign.

Looking ahead, Mercedes confirmed redevelopment work has already begun at its Brackley facility, with two new buildings slated for 2025 aimed at boosting long-term efficiency and performance.

After a turbulent few seasons, the Silver Arrows aren't just finding speed again they’re cashing in on it. 

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST

Green Bay Packers: Josh Jacobs Gets Honest About Malik Willis’ Future
NFL

Green Bay Packers: Josh Jacobs Gets Honest About Malik Willis’ Future

In 2024, Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis was suddenly given the keys to the offense under center after Jordan Love suffered an injury in Week 1’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil. Despite limited time with the Packers in the offseason, Willis managed to be a steady presence on the field, with Green Bay tailoring the offense for him. With Love reportedly undergoing a procedure on his left thumb, Willis filled in as the Packers’ QB1 during Thursday’s joint practice with the Indianapolis Colts. Willis appeared to make a good account of himself on the field, with Packers running back Josh Jacobs taking notice of the quarterback’s performance. “We know what Malik is and what we have in Malik,” Jacobs said, per Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers’ website. Jacobs also shared his confidence in Willis’ NFL outlook. “He made a few throws today that was kinda like, ‘Wow.’ Just him being more comfortable and him being the leader, I think he’s naturally a guy that he puts in the work, so I think he’s going to succeed.” Will Jordan Love be ready for the Green Bay Packers’ 2025 NFL season opener? The Packers are less than a month away from kicking off their 2025 campaign, with a date with the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field scheduled for September 7. Green Bay, however, doesn’t seem all that worried about Love’s availability for that contest. “We’ll get him back in plenty of time,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said (h/t Rob Demovsky of ESPN). “I don’t foresee this affecting him long term at all.” As for the upcoming preseason clash with the Colts and the one after that versus the Seattle Seahawks, Love can be expected to sit out both contests, with Willis possibly getting some snaps.

Dolly Parton gives advice to Kelly Clarkson after Brandon Blackstock death
Entertainment

Dolly Parton gives advice to Kelly Clarkson after Brandon Blackstock death

Dolly Parton has urged Kelly Clarkson to "remember the very best" of her time with Brandon Blackstock. The 79-year-old music icon has offered some advice to her friends Kelly and Reba McEntire following the death of Blackstock - who was Kelly's ex-husband and Reba's stepson - and touched on her own experiences with grief after her husband Carl Thomas Dean died earlier this year aged 82. She told Entertainment Tonight: "I think you just have to be grateful for the years that you’ve had with someone. “And you just try to remember the very best of all that. And take their energy that they had given you then and kinda just recycle that and let that become a part of you. "Just honour their memory." Blackstock - a former music manager turned full-time rancher - died aged 48 from melanoma on 7 August. His 18-year-old son Seth Blackstock - who he had with first wife Melissa Ashworth Wells - recently took to Instagram to share his devastation at the passing of his beloved father and "best friend". He wrote on Instagram over the weekend: “I lost my hero yesterday, words can’t describe how proud of you I am on raising me and your 3 other kids. “You were a father, a son, a brother, and most importantly my best friend. “You’ll have to watch me grow up from a Birds Eye view now but that’s OK with me. There’s no one else on this earth that I would want to be my dad because no one can be half the man you were to me. “I’ll see you everyday when the sun rises and falls. I can confidently say all the deer and elk took a sigh of relief when the best hunter I’ve ever known laid his rifle down for the last time.” He concluded: “I love you so much and can’t wait to throw a line in the water with you again. Love you dad. Be good or good at it -love your son Seth." Kelly, 43, is yet to address his death publicly. She and Blackstock were married for seven years before divorcing in 2022, and despite their split, Kelly prioritised his relationship with their two children, River Rose, 11, and Remington, nine, rearranging her schedule to allow them frequent visits during his illness. A source has now told UsWeekly about how she is dealing wit the fallout from his death from cancer: “It has been draining, exhausting, emotional (and) devastating. “(But) her children have always come first. “A big part of (her care for Brandon) was making her schedule available for transporting the children to visit Brandon.”

Bryson DeChambeau divulges Scottie Scheffler's biggest advantage
Golf

Bryson DeChambeau divulges Scottie Scheffler's biggest advantage

We all know Scottie Scheffler is the best golfer on the planet by a fairly large margin, but what makes him so much more consistent than other stars in professional golf? Bryson DeChambeau, one of Scheffler's biggest rivals in major championships, thinks he knows the answer. In Tuesday's appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," DeChambeau detailed how Scheffler dominates the PGA Tour weekly. "He's got the best spin and distance control I've ever seen," DeChambeau said. "He controls the golf ball from a spin perspective so much better than everybody else. Like, if you're 175 yards out, and it's 10 miles [an hour] into the wind, he knows how to control the flight and spin to get that ball to land right next to the hole every time. Probably since Tiger [Woods], he's the best that we've seen." The stats confirm DeChambeau's breakdown. Scheffler has ranked first on the PGA Tour in strokes gained on approach in three straight seasons. He also ranks first in proximity to the hole and greens in regulation percentage over the last four years. Iron play is Scheffler's superpower, but it wasn't always that way. "I played with him in college a bunch, and I've said it before, but he's definitely improved since college for sure," DeChambeau said with a chuckle. "It's impressive to see what he's done, and we're all aspiring to do that. That's something I've gotta get better at. I can hit it farther than him. I can hit it probably straighter than him. I can make just as many putts as him, but, really, it's about my iron play right now and wedges to get a little more consistent." Iron play is the biggest indicator of success in professional golf. If you're giving yourself more birdie chances from close range than anyone in the field, you're going to have the best chance to win by Sunday afternoon. No one is better at hitting specific distances more consistently than Scheffler. Just look at how accurate he is. DeChambeau has the best chance to catch Scheffler as the best player in the world because he's elite off the tee and on the greens, but that won't happen unless he makes a major improvement to his iron game.

Former crew chief frustrated by the 'ridiculous' racing at Watkins Glen
NASCAR

Former crew chief frustrated by the 'ridiculous' racing at Watkins Glen

It is no secret that NASCAR's current road-course package has not been very good. Aside from the mile-and-a-half tracks that were once the least competitive and exciting in the series, those races are the rare bright spot for the Next Gen Car since its inception in 2022. Shane van Gisbergen drove away to an 11.1-second win over Christopher Bell in Sunday's race at Watkins Glen and set multiple records in the process. While the racing was not particularly exciting, that was not what left former crew chief and current analyst Steve Letarte frustrated the most following the weekend. A recurring issue in each race over the weekend was drivers utilizing the runoff areas around the track and not staying on the traditional racing surface, which ultimately led to some crashes in Saturday's Xfinity race. "So, I hate track limits that have to be officiated," Letarte said on "Inside the Race." "Because I like tracks that you should just stay on the track. I didn't think it mattered. Now, I am team get-them-back-on-the-race-track-at-Watkins-Glen. I don't love the Watkins Glen that I see. ... I think Turn 1 is not as great of a corner with no exit respect or responsibility. You just blow the exit. I think the carousel is a much easier corner, being able to just go driver's left. "I also think Turn 6 is going — let me add, that I think the (Connor) Zilisch, SVG wreck between the last two corners (in the Xfinity Series race) happened because they left the track, and the Austin Hill wreck with Michael McDowell happened off the race track. Now, both could have been avoided, we can talk about who's at fault. What I'm saying is, I've never driven a lap at Watkins Glen. I can analyze what happens between the white lines." This comes one year after rumble strips were placed in Turn 1 to keep drivers from using the runoff area, and that clearly has not worked. As the field has got closer together, using up all the track has become a common way for drivers to establish momentum, especially as they prepare for the right-hander going into The Esses at Watkins Glen. The bottom line is NASCAR's road-racing product needs to get better and Letarte wants to see race cars "stay on the race track because I think it will be a better race." Van Gisbergen's historic dominance certainly does not help, but the overall road course product is not great. Whether NASCAR makes some changes to the runoff areas and enforces track limits remains to be seen, but that still may not be the biggest issue if the racing does not improve.

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!