Christian Horner and Alpine: share acquisition may delay F1 return until September. Christian Horner’s potential return to F1 with Alpine may be delayed.

Christian Horner, the former Red Bull team principal, wants to return to Formula 1, but a bureaucratic obstacle could delay his comeback until September.

Otro Capital wants to sell its stake, but…

It is no secret that Christian Horner is eager to return to Formula 1 as soon as possible. The former Red Bull team principal was relieved of his duties last July and is currently serving a gardening leave period that will keep him out of F1 until late spring of the following year.

Horner’s plan, however, is not only to join a team as an employee but also to become a shareholder, following the example of Toto Wolff. One of the main candidates that could satisfy this requirement is Alpine. Horner enjoys excellent relations with Flavio Briatore, yet, according to PlanetF1.com, there is a bureaucratic hurdle that could postpone his potential arrival at Alpine until September.

Otro Capital’s 24% stake

Otro Capital acquired 24% of Alpine in 2023, an investment that has grown 170% in value. At the time, Otro Capital invested $216 million when Alpine was valued at $900 million. Today, the Enstone team’s value has risen to $2.45 billion according to Forbes. However, it has emerged that Otro Capital is restricted from selling its stake for three years, with the acquisition dating back to September 13, 2023.

If Alpine is indeed Christian Horner’s future destination, he will have to wait until September to acquire Otro Capital’s shares and complete his transition to the team.

While the wait until autumn might seem like an eternity for a man used to the fast-paced life of the pit wall, the strategic advantage of joining Alpine as an owner-manager could outweigh the frustration of a delayed start. The Enstone team is undergoing a massive transformation, and Horner’s proven track record of building championship-winning structures would be a powerful asset for the French manufacturer. Whether he chooses to wait for the ownership window to open in September or finds a way to join in a purely managerial capacity earlier, Christian Horner remains the biggest “free agent” on the market, and his next move will undoubtedly shift the balance of power in the paddock.