Former Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner is reportedly in advanced discussions to make a dramatic return to Formula 1 as a team owner at Alpine. The potential deal centres on acquiring a significant 24 per cent stake in the French constructor, currently held by Otro Capital, with a reported value of approximately £450 million.
High-Stakes Negotiations Underway
According to exclusive reports from Sky News' Mark Kleinman, Horner is actively engaged in talks with former McLaren Racing investors MSP Sports Capital regarding a joint investment in the Alpine F1 team. This development follows months of speculation and sale discussions surrounding the minority stake owned by Otro Capital, with Horner having been previously linked to various consortium bids.
Valuation and Strategic Implications
The proposed investment could potentially value the entire Alpine Formula 1 operation at an impressive £1.8 billion, equivalent to around $2.5 billion. This valuation emerges during a period of significant financial activity within the sport, reflecting Formula 1's growing commercial appeal and the premium placed on constructor ownership.
MSP Sports Capital brings considerable motorsport investment experience to the table, having previously held a minority stake in McLaren Racing until their exit in 2025. Their departure from the Woking-based team occurred as part of a major transaction with Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat, which valued McLaren at over $5 billion.
Horner's Potential F1 Comeback
Christian Horner's potential return to the Formula 1 paddock marks a significant development following his departure from Red Bull Racing last year after two decades at the helm. During his tenure, Horner oversaw one of the most dominant periods in the sport's history, though his final years were marked by internal challenges.
The former team principal, married to Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, faced allegations of inappropriate behaviour toward a female employee in 2023, which he denied and was subsequently cleared of following an internal investigation. His leadership also navigated internal team dynamics following the 2022 death of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz, criticism from driver Max Verstappen's father Jos, and the high-profile departure of design chief Adrien Newey to Aston Martin.
Previous Consortium Interest
This latest development follows previous reports of a potential Alpine bid involving Horner alongside former F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, the controversial de facto team principal of Alpine. Mercedes co-owner Toto Wolff famously described that potential consortium as the "three sharks" bid, highlighting the competitive nature of Formula 1 team ownership negotiations.
Alpine has recently clarified their position regarding ownership discussions, stating: "Any approaches or discussions are with existing shareholders, Otro Capital and Renault Group, not directly with Flavio Briatore or the team." This statement underscores the formal channels through which any stake sale would need to proceed.
Formula 1's Evolving Ownership Landscape
The potential Horner-MSP Sports Capital investment in Alpine represents the latest in a series of significant ownership movements within Formula 1. The sport has witnessed increasing interest from investment groups and sovereign wealth funds, reflecting its growing global profile and commercial potential under the current regulatory framework.
Should the deal proceed, it would mark one of the most notable team ownership changes in recent seasons, bringing together Horner's extensive operational experience with MSP Sports Capital's financial expertise in a bid to revitalise the Alpine team's competitive and commercial prospects.
