Toto Wolff's team is considering acquiring a percentage of the French team, the same participation that also interests a group linked to the former boss of Red Bull
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 Wolffis 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.
Toto Wolff would be interested in buying a percentage of Alpine
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
. Mercedes has technical ties with Alpine
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
.
One of the strongest critics of this system is Zak Brown, executive director of McLaren, who has warned that these partnerships can generate conflicts of interest and competitive advantages through the exchange of technical information.
Beyond the political impact, the operation would also have direct consequences on Horner's future. If Mercedes manages to acquire the stake in Alpine, the chances of the former Red Bull manager joining the French team would be practically reduced to zero, considering his historic rivalry
with Wolff. The possible arrival of Mercedes to Alpine could completely close the door on Horner
Even if the agreement does not succeed, inside the paddock they do not rule out that Wolff uses the technical partnership with Alpine as a pressure tool to block any possible landing of Horner
.
In terms of valuation, it is estimated that Alpine is valued between 1,500 and 1,860 million pounds. In this scenario, the 24% held by Otro Capital would be around 448 million pounds
. In
any case, any transaction would need the approval of Grupo Renault, the majority shareholder of the team, and also of the Mercedes board of directors. For now, the investment fund has avoided commenting on a possible sale
. Alpine is worth between 1,500 and 1,86 billion pounds
A Mercedes spokesman simply pointed out that the German brand is “a key strategic partner of Alpine” and that it remains informed of
the latest developments.
Meanwhile, Horner continues to evaluate options to return to Formula 1. The 52-year-old manager recently said that he still feels that he has “unfinished business” in the category, although he clarified that he would only return to Máxima as a partner in a project and not as a
