Alpine confirms Horner part of investment consortium looking to buy into F1 team

Alpine has confirmed former Red Bull team principal and CEO Christian Horner is part of one of the consortiums that has expressed interest in investing into the team.

Private equity firm Otro Capital led a group that purchased 24% of Alpine in 2023 – paying €200 million ($236m) at the time – but started exploring a potential sale of that stake late last year. While the Renault Group retains a 76% shareholding and is believed to have first refusal on the stake, it would also need to approve any new investor.

After comments from executive advisor Flavio Briatore at Alpine’s 2026 car launch in Barcelona on Friday, an Alpine spokesperson has now confirmed that there are multiple interested parties in the Otro stake, but that any discussions do not take place with Briatore or the team itself.

“The team is regularly approached and contacted from potential investors, particularly given Otro Capital declared exploratory talks have taken place,” the spokesperson said. “One of those parties to express an interest is a group of investors, which also includes Christian Horner.

“Any approaches or discussions are with the existing shareholders, Otro Capital (24%) and Renault Group (76%), not directly with Flavio Briatore or the team.

“Currently, the primary focus for the team is to be more competitive on track in 2026 which, with the new regulation era, presents a unique opportunity to show a sustainable recovery of performance.”

Horner was ousted by Red Bull in July of last year, after leading the team for the entirety of its 20-year F1 history to that point, securing eight drivers’ world championships and six constructors’ titles in the process. He is believed to have received a substantial payoff from Red Bull upon his departure, and was linked with a role at Aston Martin – a development that was later dismissed by owner Lawrence Stroll – as well as Alpine.

The 52-year-old has generally remained out of the limelight since leaving Red Bull, but is poised to tour Australia in the build-up to the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Three dates – in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth across February and March – are being billed as his world-exclusive tour, and he plans to discuss his time in F1 with "A Special Evening with Christian Horner."

“These shows are an exciting opportunity for me to unpack my career so far and provide insights and perspectives on the cusp of another exciting F1 championship,” Horner said. “Formula 1 is an extraordinary world, but it’s also unforgiving and all-encompassing. I’m privileged to have spent a large part of my life in the center of that furnace, and I’m looking forward to sharing and reflecting on some of the big moments that have shaped who I am today.”