Mercedes is considering acquiring a minority stake in Alpine, an operation that could alter the delicate political balance within the Formula 1.
As revealed by the British newspaper Telegraph, the team led by Toto Wolff is interested in buying 24% of the Enstone-based team that currently belongs to the US investment fund Otro Capital.The possibility is especially striking because that same stock package is also closely followed by a consortium linked to Christian Horner, former head of Red Bull, who seeks to return to the paddock after leaving the team in 2025 after two decades.
The executive advisor of the French team, Flavio Briatore, had confirmed months ago that there are several groups interested in acquiring a stake in the US fund, although he did not publicly mention Mercedes among potential buyers
.Currently, the Renault Group owns 76% of the equipment, so any new investor would only get a minority stake. However, the entry of Mercedes could considerably strengthen the relationship between the two structures.
In fact, there is already a technical link between the teams: Alpine will use Mercedes engines and gearboxes at least until the end of 2030. If the German brand were to complete the purchase of shares, that collaboration could be further expanded
.
An agreement of this type, however, could also create discomfort among some rivals. The possibility of a structure having close ties with more than one team has been a matter of debate in the category for years. The most cited example is the Red Bull model, which controls two teams in Formula 1
