Formula 1 Rumor: Horner has a war chest of money to buy into Alpine team

Paddock buzz is reaching fever pitch as reports emerge that Christian Horner (pictured), following his dramatic July 2025 sacking from Red Bull, has assembled a powerhouse investor consortium and is tabling a massive $897 million offer for a majority stake in the Alpine F1 team.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

According to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Horner and his backers are pushing hard for control of the Enstone-based outfit, with the deal potentially wrapping up in the coming days. The bid targets not just the 24% minority stake held by the Otro Capital-led group (which includes RedBird Capital and Maximum Effort Investments, and features high-profile names like Ryan Reynolds), but enough additional equity from Renault to secure outright majority ownership.

Alpine, coming off a disastrous 2025 season where they finished dead last in the constructors’ standings, is seen as ripe for a turnaround—especially with Flavio Briatore (a longtime Horner ally) already in an executive advisory role and the team switching to Mercedes power units in 2026. Insiders say Horner’s vision is to step in as owner-principal, injecting his proven championship pedigree and serious financial muscle to rebuild the team into a frontrunner.

This escalates earlier December whispers that Horner was eyeing just the 24% slice for a quicker entry, but sources now claim he’s gone all-in for full control—something he never quite had at Red Bull despite his successes.

Of course, Renault holds matching rights on any minority sale and has publicly reaffirmed its commitment to F1, so nothing’s locked in yet. But with team valuations soaring and Alpine desperate for direction, this rumor has serious momentum heading into the new year.

Strap in—this could be the biggest off-track story of the 2026 prep season. Watch this space closely.