Toto Wolff Linked to Alpine Stake Amid Mercedes Two-Team Strategy The BWT Alpine Formula One Team is now at the center of a story that extends beyond a simple financial move. According to multiple sources, including British media and specialist outlets, Toto Wolff is leading an offer to acquire the 24% stake held by Otro Capital in Alpine F1 Team. This shareholding has already attracted several bidders, including a consortium linked to Christian Horner, highlighting the team’s growing value in the Formula 1 paddock. At first glance, the investment appears standard, given the team’s valuation has surged since the budget cap era began. However, the strategic implications are significant. A Mercedes stake in Alpine could create a two-team ecosystem akin to Red Bull’s model, where a main team competes for titles and a sister structure serves as a development platform. This approach allows manufacturers to gather extensive technical data and test drivers under real racing conditions, which Mercedes currently lacks through its partnerships with McLaren and Williams. The interest in Alpine is particularly notable because of its technical ties to Mercedes. Since 2026, Alpine has used Mercedes power units and gearboxes, following the end of Renault’s engine program. This relationship has strengthened the technical link between the two entities, making a Mercedes stake in Alpine a strategic move. The 24% stake, originally purchased by Otro Capital and its partners for around €200 million in 2023, is now estimated to be worth over €500 million, with the team’s total valuation ranging between €1.7 and €2 billion. The Red Bull model, which has been central to the German manufacturer’s success for nearly two decades, offers a blueprint for Mercedes.#christian_horner #toto_wolff #otro_capital #alpine_f1_team #renault_group
Toto Wolff joining Christian Horner in race for Alpine? Why the stake is so attractive The 24% stake that Otro Capital holds in Alpine’s Formula 1 team remains highly sought after in the paddock. It had already emerged that former Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was interested, something Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore certainly did not try to hide either. During the team's launch in January, he publicly confirmed Horner’s interest. Around the season opener in Melbourne, however, another bidder has emerged. As first reported by The Telegraph, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff appears to have entered the race. Briatore had previously emphasised there were several interested parties besides the consortium linked to Horner, but did not mention any names – and therefore did not explicitly refer to Mercedes. When contacted by Motorsport.com, Alpine still didn’t want to comment on specific names, but once more confirmed that several parties are interested and that the process is still ongoing. “The team is regularly approached and contacted by multiple parties and potential investors,” a team spokesperson said. “We do not comment on any specific names or individuals in question. Any discussions are not a matter for the team, they’re between the current stakeholders and parties expressing an interest. The primary focus for the team is the immediate task at hand which is the start of the racing season and seeing a sustained recovery of performance on track.” Mercedes has not denied Wolff’s interest in the Alpine shares and instead confirmed that it always keeps an eye open for strategic opportunities: “Mercedes is a key strategic partner of Alpine and we are being kept apprised of the latest developments.#mercedes #christian_horner #toto_wolff #alpine #otro_capital
