Because Otro Capital wants to sell its shares in the Alpine team, a buyer is being sought—one potential interested party is former team boss Christian Horner.
While Alpine officially kicks off the 2026 Formula 1 season in Barcelona today, Monday, reports of Christian Horner’s possible entry are causing a stir. The former Red Bull team boss is looking for a new field of activity in the premier class after his dismissal in the summer and is also being linked with the French team.
The background to this is Otro Capital’s desire to sell its 24 percent stake in the team. Reports are circulating in the paddock that Horner is part of a group of investors that has its eye on this stake. This has since been confirmed by the team.
Flavio Briatore, who plays a central role at Alpine as an advisor, is trying to play down the rumors: “There is a lot of confusion at the moment. A few groups, I don’t know how many, six or seven—every day a new group joins. Every day people call me about Otro, but I’m not interested,” the Italian waves off.
Briatore makes it clear that the process has two decisive hurdles: first, an agreement must be reached with Otro Capital, and then the decision-making power lies with the main owner.
Alpine: Contacted regularly
“First you have to buy Otro, then Renault has to accept the buyer, and then we’ll see what happens,” says Briatore, who emphasizes: “There is no connection to me because he is negotiating with Otro, not with us.”
Due to the persistent rumors, the team itself has now confirmed that Horner is considering an entry: “One of the parties that has expressed interest is a group of investors that includes Christian Horner,” the racing team announced, but also emphasized that it is “regularly contacted by potential investors.”
Alpine makes it clear that talks are being held exclusively with the shareholders—Otro Capital (24 percent) and the Renault Group (76 percent)—and not directly with the team management or Flavio Briatore.
Briatore himself says that he has known Horner for many years and is therefore in contact with him, but that if Horner were to buy shares, it would have nothing to do with him.
Alpine faces an important year in 2026
When asked whether Horner could be an asset to the team, Briatore remains tight-lipped, but leaves the door open for any personnel reinforcements: “I think everyone is an asset to the team, depending on what position you put people in,” he says.
Alpine finished last in the 2025 Formula 1 season and is therefore aiming for a significant improvement in performance this year. That is currently the focus, as the French team emphasizes.
With the new regulations for 2026, Alpine sees a “unique opportunity” to show a sustainable improvement in performance and return to the top of the midfield or beyond.
It remains to be seen whether Horner will actually join the French factory team as a partner – the decision now lies primarily with Renault and Otro Capital.
