LAS VEGAS (AP) — Mercedes team principal and part-owner Toto Wolff has sold 15% of his shareholding of the Formula 1 team to George Kurtz, the CEO and founder of cybersecurity company CrowdStrike.
Mercedes said the deal makes Kurtz a co-owner of the team that is valued at $6 billion. Wolff was one of three equal owners alongside Mercedes-Benz and INEOS.
The deal was announced ahead of Saturday night's Las Vegas Grand Prix, where Mercedes driver George Russell is the defending race winner.
Kurtz will become technology advisor to Mercedes, as well as join the team’s strategic steering committee alongside Wolff, Mercedes-Benz chairman Ola Kallenius, and INEOS founder and chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Wolff will continue as team principal and CEO.
“George’s background is unusual in its breadth — he’s a racer, a loyal sporting ambassador for Mercedes-AMG, and an exceptional entrepreneur,” Wolff said. “He understands both the demands of racing and the realities of building and scaling technology businesses. That combination brings specific insight that is increasingly relevant to the future of Formula 1.”
CrowdStrike became a global partner of Mercedes’ F1 team in 2019, but Kurtz's purchase into the ownership group was his personally.
"Winning in racing and cybersecurity requires speed, precision, and innovation. Milliseconds matter. Execution counts. Data wins,” said Kurtz. “Technology is reshaping competitive advantage and human capability everywhere, including motorsport. I’m excited to help the team securely accelerate forward.”
Kurtz is considered a racer and has dabbled in sports car racing since 2016. He has class wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans LMP2 Pro-Am, Twelve Hours of Sebring, Petit Le Mans, Six Hours of the Glen, and he is the two-time winner of both the Indianapolis 8 Hour and 24 Hours of Spa in a Mercedes-AMG GT3.
Kurtz won the 2023 SRO GT World Challenge America Team & Drivers’ Championship, the 2023 Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing Championship Driver Category, and the 2023-24 Asia Le Mans LMP2 Championship.
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Toto Wolff, principal of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team, watches during a practice session at the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix auto race , Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Nick Didlick)
CINCINNATI (AP) — Oneil Cruz had a three-run homer, his third in two games, Paul Skenes allowed one run in five innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Cincinnati Reds 8-3 on Wednesday to take the three-game series.
Bryan Reynolds had a two-run shot, and Nick Gonzales added a two-run double during the ninth inning.
Eugenio Suárez had a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the sixth inning for the Reds.
Cruz went 5 for 13 with three home runs and six RBIs in the series. The power-hitting outfielder has gone deep nine times in the 19 games he has played in Cincinnati.
Reds starter Andrew Abbott (0-1) retired the first two Pirates hitters before Bryan Reynolds singled to right and Marcell Ozuna drew a walk. Cruz then connected on a 2-1 curveball that was over the bottom part of the plate and drove it 407 feet over the wall in right field.
Skenes (1-1) returned to his All-Star form after giving up five runs in two-thirds of an inning last Thursday in the season opener against the New York Mets. The reigning NL Cy Young winner allowed three hits, walked two and struck out five.
The right-hander gave up two walks in the first three innings before Elly De La Cruz led off the fourth with a base hit to right. Two batters later, Nathaniel Lowe had an RBI double to right-center, snapping the Reds’ 31-inning scoreless streak against Skenes.
Pittsburgh took a 4-1 lead in the sixth when Cruz scored after Spencer Horwitz was walked by Connor Phillips with the bases loaded.
Suárez got the Reds within a run in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run homer to left, his second of the season.
Pirates: Have their home opener on Friday against Baltimore. RHP Mitch Keller (0-0, 0.00 ERA) gets the start.
Reds: Open a seven-game road trip on Friday against Texas. RHP Brady Singer (0-0, 6.75 ERA) makes his second start.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz, left, Marcell Ozuna, center, and Bryan Reynolds, right, after hitting a three-run homer in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz, right, celebrates with Marcell Ozuna, center, and Nick Yorke, left, after hitting a three-run homer in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Cincinnati, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz (15) celebrates with third base coach Tony Beasley (27) as he rounds the bases after hitting a three-run homer in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
