Flavio Briatore sets Christian Horner condition to be ‘good asset’ as Alpine buy-in talks confirmed

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Alpine executive adviser Flavio Briatore has confirmed that Christian Horner is in talks to buy the 24% stake in the team owned by Otro Capital in his mission to return to F1.

Briatore addressed the recent swarm of reports linking Horner with Alpine this Friday, as the Enstone team unveiled their new car for the 2026 F1 season. Horner’s name continues to be linked with Alpine, as he bids to return to the paddock after being fired by Red Bull last year.

Red Bull sacked Horner after 20 years in charge of the Milton Keynes team last July amid the outfit’s declining results and his internal battle for more power. The 52-year-old led Red Bull to all eight of their F1 drivers’ championship titles, plus their six F1 constructors’ titles so far.

Horner can return to the F1 paddock from April 2026, having agreed to a reduced severance package to terminate his contract with Red Bull through 2030 to reduce his gardening leave. And Horner is now in advanced talks to buy Otro Capital’s stake in Alpine to be a part-owner.

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Flavio Briatore thinks Christian Horner could be a ‘good asset’ to Alpine depending on his role

Investment firm Otro Capital, which boasts Rory McIlroy, Anthony Joshua, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce among its investors, bought a 24% stake in the Alpine F1 team from Renault in 2023 for £173m. Otro’s shares in Alpine are now believed to be worth as much as £600m.

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Briatore understands that six or seven parties are currently exploring buying Otro’s shares in Alpine, including Horner. But he notes that Horner, who is good friends with Briatore, would only be a “good asset” to Alpine depending on the role he would then adopt at the F1 team.

“A few groups, I don’t know how many, six [or] seven, every day is a new group,” Briatore told The Race. “Every day, people call me about Otro. I don’t care.

“So, [suppose] Otro want to sell their participation in Alpine. The moment somebody buys 24% of Otro, we still have 75%, and we discuss it. But for the moment, this is the situation.

“I’ve known Christian for many years, I talk with Christian anyway, but this has nothing to do with me. First, you need to buy [out] Otro, and after Renault needs to accept the buyer, and after [that], we see what’s happening.

“But there’s no link with me, because he’s negotiating with Otro. He’s not negotiating with us.”

Briatore added: “I think everybody’s a good asset to the team, depending in what position you put the people. No problem.”

Renault can veto Christian Horner’s bid to buy Otro Capital’s 24% stake in Alpine

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

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Renault can veto Horner’s bid to buy Otro Capital’s shares in Alpine, as the French car brand secured a right of refusal and a right to match any bid when it sold the 24% stake in 2023. It is said that Horner views buying Otro’s Alpine shares as his preferred option to return to F1.

Additionally, Horner has met with US and Middle East investors to raise funds since Red Bull sacked the Briton last July, as he strives to raise funds to become a part-owner in an F1 team like Alpine. Horner is determined to be more than a CEO or a team principal at his next outfit.

Also, Horner could raid Red Bull to help his next team grow, which Alpine hope the 2026 F1 regulations allow them to achieve as they also become a Mercedes engine customer. Many Red Bull staffers remain loyal to Horner and would like the chance to work under him again.