Christian Horner facing major ‘complication’ that’s stopping him becoming Alpine’s majority owner

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Former Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner has been heavily linked with returning to Formula 1 with Alpine during the 2026 campaign.

Christian Horner may not be associated with an F1 team right now, but he will be watching pre-season testing in Bahrain closely.

Every indication suggests that Horner is seeking a return to Formula 1 after his 20-year association with Red Bull came to an end last season.

Aston Martin, Haas and Cadillac have all been mentioned as potential options for the 52-year-old as a landing spot in the paddock.

Would you like to see Christian Horner revive his rivalry with Toto Wolff?

Horner could make his F1 comeback with Alpine, who will have Mercedes engines from 2026 to 2030

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However, Horner has no interest in coming back to F1 as a team principal, with his eyes set on matching Toto Wolff as a part-time team owner.

Alpine now appears to be his most likely landing spot for that to happen, but no deal seems close to being completed.

Journalist Mark Hughes has now shared what’s become the biggest complicating factor between Horner and Alpine’s majority owners, Renault.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Renault refusing to give Christian Horner an answer on becoming Alpine’s majority owner

Alpine are currently owned by Renault and Otro Capital, who own a minority stake in the team.

F1 Oversteer exclusively reported that Alpine shareholders will be delighted with their most recent valuation as Horner stepped up his interest in the outfit.

However, Otro Capital only own 24% of Alpine’s shares, and Horner apparently has far bigger ambitions.

Speaking on the Motor Sport Magazine Podcast, Hughes explained: “Alpine is very much his target.

“And there’s a complication in that he wants to have a controlling share in whatever team he gets involved with next, with his investors.

“So, as far as I understand, the investment money is available. It’s American. But at the moment, Renault have not been able to give an answer on whether they’re prepared to sell enough equity to make him the majority shareholder, which is what he would need to be in control.”

READ MORE: Who is Christian Horner? All you need to know from Red Bull to net worth

Alpine hoping to avoid repeat of 2025 pre-season testing hopes after Barcelona shakedown

Alpine were the worst team on the grid last season, with one half of the garage failing to score a point throughout 2025.

However, during pre-season testing last year, that never looked likely to be the case.

Sauber clearly had the slowest car at the start of 2025, with many expecting Alpine to battle Williams for the best of the rest position.

Unfortunately, it turned out that Bahrain’s circuit, where pre-season took place, suited their car better than any track on the calendar, covering up some of the major problems with their car.

Alpine have started the 2026 F1 testing schedule in a similar vein, with the new Mercedes power unit potentially catapulting them up the pecking order.

Horner won’t be too worried about where Alpine sit among their rivals, considering how he turned Red Bull from a midfield outfit into multiple world champions.

The fact that he now has the funding to potentially become a majority investor in Alpine is significant and will test Renault’s resolve to stay on the grid.