Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has purchased a £37 million stake in the Aston Martin brand.
While the amount concerned may seem like a large investment, Wolff has purchased a 0.95% stake in Aston Martin, and this is not a move that should be viewed as the first step of his rumoured move to Racing Point, the team that will become Aston Martin, for the 2021 season.
In fact, Mercedes and Aston Martin already have a large crossover, with Mercedes parent company Daimler owning a 5% stake in the company without any voting powers.
It has been suggested that this new investment could cause a conflict of interests for the Austrian but, with Mercedes supplying engines and gearboxes to Racing Point, and with Daimler having signed of approval for Wolff's investment, all appears to be above board for now.
“I’m in the eighth year now," Wolff told the Austrian media. "I love sports and this team. However, I am somewhat surprised by the turn of events over the winter and by the behaviour of individual people.
“Of course, this also has to do with my decision on what to do in 2020 and beyond. But I am and will remain the head of Mercedes Motorsport and F1 boss, and nothing will change in the short term.”