Toto Wolff bids to buy Alpine stake in move that renews Christian Horner battle Mercedes has emerged as a surprise bidder for the same 24 percent stake in Alpine that Christian Horner is known to be interested in, according to Telegraph Sport. The move, led by Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, adds another layer to the ongoing rivalry between Wolff and Horner, with potential implications for the future of the Formula 1 teams. Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s executive adviser, confirmed Horner’s interest in the stake earlier this year, noting that multiple groups were considering the purchase. However, Briatore did not disclose that Mercedes F1 was among the interested parties. The stake, owned by Otro Capital—a private equity firm with celebrity investors including Anthony Joshua, Rory McIlroy, and Trent Alexander-Arnold—is valued between £1.5 billion and £1.86 billion. At 24 percent, the stake would be worth approximately £448 million. Wolff’s interest in acquiring the stake is significant given the existing partnership between Mercedes and Alpine. The German manufacturer already supplies Alpine with power units and gearboxes until 2030, and a larger stake could lead to further collaboration or discussions about shared ownership. While Mercedes would not gain control of Alpine, owning a significant portion could strengthen the partnership and potentially disrupt rival teams. Red Bull’s dual ownership of two teams has long been a contentious issue in F1, with McLaren’s Zak Brown criticizing the arrangement for creating unfair advantages. If Mercedes and Alpine pursue a deal, it could reignite debates about the fairness of such partnerships.#christian_horner #toto_wolff #alpine #flavio_briatore #mercedes_f1
