Formula 1 Rumor: Horner has a war chest of money to buy into Alpine team (2nd Update)

This rumor is upgraded to ‘fact’ today.  Flavio Briatore has confirmed that Christian Horner is among those interested in buying into Alpine, amid moves by an existing shareholder to sell its stake.

Speaking on the sidelines of Alpine’s 2026 car presentation in Barcelona, Briatore said the 24 percent holding owned by Otro Capital is on the market and has attracted interest from several groups.

“Otro wants to sell its participation in Alpine,” Briatore was quoted as saying. “There are a few groups interested.”

Briatore acknowledged his long-standing relationship with Horner, but stressed that any potential deal would not involve Alpine management directly.

“I’ve known Christian for many years, I talk with Christian anyway, but this has nothing to do with me,” he said. “First, you have to buy the Otro shares, then Renault has to accept the buyer, and then we’ll see what happens.”

Alpine later issued a statement to L’Equipe confirming that Otro Capital, which acquired its 24 percent stake in 2023, has entered preliminary discussions to sell its shares. The team added that all talks are taking place directly between shareholders.

“All these discussions are taking place directly with the current shareholders, Otro Capital (24%) and Renault Group (76%), and not with Flavio Briatore or other members of the team,” the statement said.

While Horner is currently unable to take up an operational role with another Formula 1 team, his eligibility to return to the sport in any capacity is understood to change in about April this year. Briatore, however, played down any immediate implications.

“It has no link with me,” he said. “He is negotiating with someone else, not with us.”

Flavio Briatore has admitted Christian Horner is one of the interested parties in buying Otro Capital’s stake in the Alpine Formula 1 team.

When asked about the subject during a media briefing following the presentation of Alpine’s 2026 livery, Briatore said: “Otro wants to sell the participation in Alpine. It’s a few groups interested to buy 24% of Otro. We don’t know.

“The moment somebody buys 24% of Otro, we still have 74-75% and we discuss. But for the moment, this is the situation.

“I’ve known Christian for many years, I talk with Christian anyway, but this has nothing to do with me.

“First, you need to buy Otro, and after Renault needs to accept the buyer, and after we see what happens. But it has no link with me because he is negotiating with Otro, not negotiating with us.”

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.