Christian Horner could return to Formula 1 through Alpine. The British motorsport executive is reportedly in negotiations to acquire a stake in the French team, as confirmed by Flavio Briatore. The offer on the table reflects Horner’s full intention to return in a role completely different from his previous position.
Horner left the F1 paddock in July of last year, when Peter Mekies took over as Team Principal at Red Bull Racing. Since then, his name has been linked to several teams, including Ferrari—potentially replacing Frédéric Vasseur—and Haas. However, Horner has been seeking different responsibilities, and Alpine appears to offer the perfect scenario to fulfill that ambition.
The negotiations with Alpine
As Flavio Briatore confirmed during the 2026 car launch, Horner is one of the candidates to purchase a percentage of Alpine’s shares. The Italian businessman highlighted that the final decision does not rest with the team and that the personal relationship between him and Horner will not influence the outcome, as there are multiple interested parties.
“Several groups are interested,” Flavio Briatore said, as reported by RacingNews365. “I don’t know exactly how many, six or seven. Every day a new group comes forward. People call me for Otro every day, but I’m not involved.”
Currently, 24% of Alpine is owned by Otro Capital. Horner is negotiating to acquire this stake, while the remaining shares remain with Renault. “First, you need to buy the shares from Otro. Then Renault must approve the buyer, and after that, we’ll see what happens,” explained Flavio Briatore.
The relationship between Horner and Briatore
In the past, Horner’s name was linked to Alpine as a potential F1 return largely due to his friendship with Flavio Briatore. In this case, however, the negotiation is not taking place directly between the two, excluding any influence from their personal relationship.
“I’ve known Christian for several years. I talk to him in general, but this has nothing to do with me,” Flavio Briatore added. “There’s no connection with me. He’s negotiating with Otro, not with us.”
Nevertheless, according to Briatore, Horner’s arrival is not essential for Alpine: “I think anyone could be a valuable asset for the team. It depends on where you place people. No problem,” he concluded.
The potential entry of Christian Horner into the Alpine ownership structure marks a fascinating new chapter in the post-Red Bull career of one of F1’s most successful leaders. While Flavio Briatore remains characteristically detached regarding the outcome, the move signals a shift in the sport’s landscape where high-profile figures seek to transition from management to equity, potentially bringing a wealth of championship-winning experience to a team currently undergoing a massive technical and structural overhaul for the 2026 season.
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