Alpine receive £171m investment boost including backing from actor Ryan Reynolds

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French Formula 1 team Alpine have received a large investment from a group that includes actor Ryan Reynolds to help with their sporting endeavours.

More details have emerged via the official Formula 1 website as Alpine look to improve their standing within the sport.

Alpine currently sit fifth in the Constructors’ Championship after a steady start to the season.

However, Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi was furious with the team’s opening races and suggested there would be consequences if he didn’t see improvements.

Thankfully, Esteban Ocon recorded his third career podium in Monaco to take the pressure off the team.

He currently sits 14 points ahead of new teammate Pierre Gasly who is still getting to grips with his new car.

Alpine will now hope to benefit from a new round of investment that includes Ryan Reynolds as one of its backers.

The actor’s investment firm Maximum Effort Investments, teamed up with Otro Capital and RedBird Capital Partners to inject £171m into the team.

Given Alpine currently sit alone in midtable in F1, they can now begin to look up the standings rather than over their shoulders.

Reynolds joins investment group at Alpine

Speaking about the investment, Alpine CEO Rossi said: “This association is an important step to enhance our performance at all levels.

“First, Otro Capital, RedBird Capital Partners and Maximum Effort Investments, as international players with strong track record in the sports industry, will bring their recognised expertise to boost our media and marketing strategy, essential to support our sporting performance over the long term.

“Second, the incremental revenue generated will in turn be reinvested in the team, in order to further accelerate our Mountain Climber plan, aimed at catching up with top teams in terms of state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.”

Esteban Ocon suggested after last weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix that his Alpine car couldn’t keep up with Williams on the straights.

The Alpine is quite quick through the corners, but if they can’t get past one of this season’s backmarkers on one of the fastest tracks on the grid, then they’re going to have problems.

Reynolds will hope his investment sees Alpine challenge at the front of the grid soon.

A repeat of Ocon’s heroics in Hungary from 2021 would be very welcome right now.