- Horner unlikely to return to F1 without controlling stake in a team
- Renault Group expected to close Viry-Chatillon facility, hinting at future Alpine sale
- Viry-Chatillon mayor accuses Renault of “lies and betrayal”
Ex-Red Bull boss Christian Horner is in talks with investors, including former McLaren Racing backers MSP Sports Capital, around the acquisition of a stake in Alpine, according to Sky News.
Alpine revealed in January that Horner was among a group interested in acquiring Otro Capital’s stake in the outfit.
“Any approaches or discussions are with the existing shareholders, Otro Capital (24 per cent) and Renault Group (76 per cent), not directly with (boss) Flavio Briatore or the team,” said Alpine in a statement at the time.
Sky News reported that any deal could value Alpine between US$2 billion and US$2.5 billion, which tracks with Forbes‘ estimated US$2.45 billion valuation of the Enstone-based team.
Horner is unlikely to return to Formula One unless he acquires a controlling stake in a team, admitting at the European Motor Show in Dublin that he “would want to be a partner, rather than just a hired hand”.
He oversaw a period of extraordinary success during his 20-year career with Red Bull, winning eight drivers’ and six constructors’ titles.
The decision to relieve him of operational duties in July came 17 months after he was accused of “inappropriate behaviour” by a female colleague, an accusation of which he was exonerated twice.
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The 52-year-old is yet to publicly comment on the rumoured interest, and it is as yet unclear whether MSP Sports Capital will participate in a deal with Horner. The identities of his other prospective backers is unknown.
But MSP Sports Capital sold its estimated 15 per cent stake in a deal that valued McLaren Racing at more than UK3 billion (US$4.06 billion) in September 2025, so the firm has substantial realised gains to reinvest if it so chooses.
New Renault Group chief executive François Provost said in the same month that the company was “staying in Formula One for a long time”, but Renault also promised to keep its Viry-Chatillon facility operational after shutting down its Formula One engine programme – a promise it looks set to renege on.
Alpine will race with Mercedes engines in 2026 following the decision to cull its works engine programme, but Viry-Chatillon was set to be included in Renault’s ‘Hypertech Alpine’ plan.
An impassioned plea on social media from Viry-Chatillon mayor Jean-Marie Vilain confirmed that this is set to change, accusing Renault of “lies and betrayal”.
“I just found out from those directors themselves that those commitments won’t be fulfilled after all,” he said.
“I am as shocked as I am upset with those promises being reneged on, which also shows total disrespect towards the employees.
“I am therefore urging the Renault Group and its shareholder, the [French] state [which owns 15 per cent of Renault], to overturn their decision, and I reserve the right to lead – alongside the Alpine employees and any elected officials willing to join me – all possible actions to protest what I view as a real betrayal.”
While the true impact of this decision remains to be seen, shutting down the Viry-Chatillon facility will make the Alpine Formula One team a much easier asset to sell.
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