Core Insights - Microsoft is set to announce a partnership with the Mercedes Formula One team, highlighting the sport's growing appeal among major technology companies [1] - The sponsorship deal is estimated to be worth around $60 million per year, potentially ranking among the largest individual team sponsorship agreements in F1 [2] - The partnership follows a trend of tech companies entering F1, with Google already partnered with McLaren Racing, and reflects the commercial success of the sport under Liberty Media's ownership [3] Group 1 - The announcement will coincide with the unveiling of Mercedes' 2026 car livery and design [1] - Mercedes recently sold a 15% stake to George Kurtz, valuing the team at over £4.6 billion, a record for the sport [4][5] - Despite not winning a constructors' title since 2021, Mercedes continues to attract significant investment and sponsorship [5] Group 2 - John Owen, the designer behind Mercedes' successful F1 cars from 2014 to 2021, is set to step down during 2026 [6] - The sport has seen increased race attendances, TV audiences, and a growing global fanbase, contributing to its commercial success [3] - Both Microsoft and the Mercedes F1 team have declined to comment on the partnership [8]