Mercedes in Talks to Acquire Stake in Alpine F1 as Investors Consider Sale
Discussions are underway regarding a potential investment by Mercedes in the Alpine Formula One team as negotiations continue over a minority stake currently held by a group of investors. Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore confirmed that talks are taking place with the German automotive manufacturer rather than with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff personally. The discussions center on a 24 percent share originally owned by Otro Capital, an investment group that has been exploring options to sell its stake. The potential deal has drawn attention across the Formula One paddock as teams and investors closely monitor ownership changes within the sport.
Briatore explained that several interested parties are evaluating the opportunity to purchase the minority share, which is separate from Renault’s controlling ownership of the Alpine team. According to him the negotiations involve the investor stake held by Otro Capital rather than any restructuring of Renault’s position within the team. He noted that multiple potential buyers are currently reviewing the offer and that the situation remains fluid. Alpine continues to operate under Renault’s leadership while discussions proceed regarding whether Mercedes or another investor might acquire the available portion of equity.
The 24 percent stake held by Otro Capital is part of a broader investment group that includes well known financial institutions and prominent sports figures. The group’s investors include RedBird Capital Partners and Maximum Effort Investments, a company associated with actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Several high profile athletes are also linked to the investment consortium, including American football star Patrick Mahomes and professional golfer Rory McIlroy. The possibility that this stake could change hands has generated considerable interest within Formula One because of the strategic relationships among competing teams and manufacturers.
The negotiations have also attracted attention due to the involvement of former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, who has reportedly been exploring the same investment opportunity. Horner’s potential return to Formula One leadership roles has been widely discussed within the sport following his departure from Red Bull earlier in 2025. Briatore confirmed that there are multiple candidates reviewing the purchase but emphasised that Alpine itself is not seeking to sell any additional shares beyond the stake currently held by the investor group.
Industry observers have questioned whether an investment from Mercedes could create competitive complications given that Alpine already uses engines supplied by the German manufacturer. Briatore dismissed such concerns and suggested that minority ownership structures are not unusual in Formula One. He noted that majority shareholders maintain operational control while smaller investors generally play a more passive financial role. According to Briatore the structure of the deal would leave Renault firmly in charge of Alpine’s long term strategy regardless of who acquires the minority stake.
Other team leaders within the sport have also downplayed concerns about conflicts of interest. Audi team principal Jonathan Wheatley indicated that Formula One’s governance framework contains clear rules designed to prevent unfair competitive advantages. He suggested that the situation should be viewed simply as part of the evolving business landscape of the sport. As teams seek new funding sources to support rising development costs and technological competition, investment deals involving manufacturers and financial groups have become increasingly common across the Formula One grid.
While negotiations continue the final outcome remains uncertain as investors evaluate the strategic value of the Alpine stake. The discussions highlight the growing financial complexity surrounding Formula One teams as the sport expands its global audience and commercial revenues. With multiple potential buyers reviewing the opportunity and negotiations still ongoing, the sale of the minority stake could reshape Alpine’s investor base while leaving Renault’s leadership of the team unchanged.
