Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is reportedly holding talks with a new investment group to secure a stake in Alpine. It was already revealed that Horner had been negotiating with Otro Capital, the investment group looking to sell its holding in the French team. Horner may now be joining forces with MSP Sports Capital, which was already a significant investor in rival McLaren.
According to Sky Sports, Christian Horner — who was forced out of Red Bull last year after two decades — has been approached by MSP Sports Capital to take over Otro Capital’s interest in Alpine. The F1 team is largely owned by parent company Renault, but a 24 percent minority stake has been held since 2023 by an investor group led by Otro, which bought in at around €200 million at the time. That package now represents a potential entry point for Horner. Flavio Briatore confirmed during the season launch in Barcelona that talks are ongoing.
Billion-euro sport
Insiders say Horner is, however, seeking a majority stake so he can — à la Toto Wolff at Mercedes — play a leading role within an F1 team. It remains unclear how much control Renault is prepared to cede. Given Alpine’s current position, having finished last in the constructors’ championship last year, the team could certainly use a fresh impetus. With six titles at Red Bull, Horner also brings a proven track record.
Still, it is unclear to what extent MSP Sports Capital and Horner can buy into Enstone. The investment firm until last year also held a stake in McLaren Racing, a team that was at the time valued at nearly €3.5 billion. That underlined not only McLaren’s growth but also the global appetite for Formula 1. Mercedes, for example, smashed records last year when the value of the F1 team was estimated at over €5 billion.
