Alpine Sale Talks Involve Mercedes, Not Just Toto Wolff

Alpine team boss Flavio Briatore clarified that negotiations for the sale of a major stake in the team are with the Mercedes organization, not solely with its co-owner Toto Wolff. This comes amid reports that Wolff and former rival Christian Horner are among several bidders for the 24% share currently held by investment group Otro Capital.

Why it matters:

The potential sale of a significant stake in Alpine represents a pivotal moment for the struggling French team. The identity of the new investor could influence Alpine's long-term technical and financial strategy, especially as it begins a new chapter as a Mercedes customer team. High-profile interest from figures like Wolff and Horner underscores the enduring value and appeal of an F1 team entry, even one currently off the pace.

The details:

• Otro Capital, a consortium whose investors include Ryan Reynolds and Rory McIlroy, is seeking to sell the 24% stake it purchased in Alpine for €200 million in 2021.
• Multiple parties have expressed interest, with PlanetF1.com understanding that bids have been lodged by both Mercedes F1 co-owner Toto Wolff and former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.
• Briatore explicitly stated the talks are with Mercedes as an entity. "I know it’s a negotiation from Mercedes, not with Toto, with Mercedes," he said during the Chinese GP weekend.
• The team boss confirmed there are "three or four potential buyers" and emphasized the sale is purely related to Otro's shares, not a direct matter for the Alpine team's management.
• Alpine recently transitioned to using Mercedes power units and gearboxes, making Mercedes a "key strategic partner," according to a Mercedes spokesperson.

What's next:

The sale process continues with several candidates in the running. While neither Mercedes nor Alpine will comment on specific bidders, a resolution will determine who joins Renault and other existing shareholders in Alpine's ownership structure. For the team itself, the immediate focus remains on improving its on-track performance, while the commercial negotiations happen in the background.