Alpine just rejected the biggest takeover offer in Formula 1 history despite 2025 struggles

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Alpine enter the summer break bottom of the Formula 1 world championship. They have scored 20 points in the first 14 rounds, which leaves them 15 adrift of Haas ahead.

The Enstone outfit are the highest-scoring last-place team in the sport’s history at this stage. But that’s unlikely to be much consolation for Flavio Briatore, who helped the team mount a late charge to sixth after he arrived last year.

Alpine’s focus is on 2026, when they will race with the Mercedes power units that have been widely talked up in the F1 paddock. They know that’s their chance to make a meaningful step forward.

The Renault name returned to F1 in 2017 before they rebranded to promote their performance car division. Under their current guise, they have taken just one victory (Esteban Ocon at the 2021 Hungarian GP) and six podiums, which arguably represents underachievement for a works team.

Alpine reject giant £897m offer to sell Formula 1 team

After Renault scrapped their F1 engine operation following years of disappointing results, there was optimism among interested parties. It seemed as if Briatore was laying the groundwork for a sale, making the team a more attractive asset in the long term.

As reported by Planet F1, the closure of an ‘expensive department’ widened the pool of viable buyers. Renault currently own 76% of the team, having sold a minority stake to a consortium of celebrities and athletes a couple of years ago.

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But when they ‘recently’ received a $1.2bn (£987m) offer from an unnamed party, they rejected it without giving it any real ‘consideration’. That suggests that there’s currently no interest in selling.

This would have been the biggest takeover in F1 history, eclipsing the £448m Audi paid for Sauber ahead of their 2026 entry. Team valuations have recently surged due to the sport’s increasing popularity.

Alpine are about to become Mercedes customers – but they don’t want to train their drivers

The departure of Luca de Meo as Renault CEO heightened uncertainty over the F1 team’s future. But replacement Francois Provost doesn’t appear to be actively seeking a sale.

That stance will be tested if Alpine struggle with a Mercedes power unit next year. Sacrificing their prestigious works team status must prove to be worthwhile.

In the past, Mercedes have leveraged their engine supply to place George Russell at Williams. That was a mutually beneficial relationship given the talent of the Formula 2 champion.

But Alpine would resist taking on Kimi Antonelli, who’s struggled during his rookie season at Brackley. They don’t want to be seen as subservient and want to retain control of their driver line-up.

Pierre Gasly signed a multi-year contract extension last year, while the under-pressure Franco Colapinto is on a short-term deal.