Flavio Briatore has confirmed that Mercedes intends to acquire a stake in the Alpine Formula 1 team. Recent reports about this potential deal — which, as Motorsport.com clarified yesterday, involves not only Toto Wolff but also McLaren — were confirmed by the Alpine team principal during Friday’s press conference at the Chinese Grand Prix.
The German brand is reportedly interested in acquiring 24% of the Enstone team, currently owned by Otro Capital, an investment group that also includes film stars like Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny, as well as golfer Rory McIlroy.
When Otro Capital joined the team in 2023, it paid $233 million for its stake. Since then, Formula 1 team values have grown steadily, and Alpine’s valuation is thought to have potentially doubled, meaning the investment could now require nearly $500 million.
“Every day is a new situation,” Flavio Briatore said. “But what I want to say is that I know it’s a negotiation with Mercedes. Not with Toto, but with Mercedes, and we’ll see.”
“At the moment, we have three or four potential buyers. Don’t forget we’re talking about Otro’s stake, which has nothing to do with Alpine. There are several candidates ready to close the deal,” he added, also mentioning former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner among the potential buyers.
When asked if he himself was tempted to buy the stake, Flavio Briatore replied: “No, no. I’m just observing what’s happening and watching how things go. At the moment, I have no contact with Otro. So if someone buys the stake, we’ll be very happy.”
Alpine began using Mercedes power units this season after deciding to stop producing their own engines in preparation for the new technical cycle in Formula 1. Flavio Briatore had made this a non-negotiable condition for his return as a consultant, and effectively as team principal.
The Italian manager was asked whether Mercedes becoming a shareholder could impact how Alpine operates or votes in the F1 Commission, and he was candid: “I think so. Red Bull has pioneered this over the last 10 or 15 years (with two teams in F1). As I said, though, Mercedes is trying to buy 24% of Otro Capital. Normally, in a company, 75% decides and 25% is the passenger. That’s the reality.”
Speaking about the matter, Audi team principal Jonathan Wheatley expressed no concern. “I’m very happy,” he said, to which Flavio Briatore replied: “Fantastic.”
The potential entry of Mercedes as a minority shareholder in Alpine marks a significant shift in the political landscape of the 2026 paddock. As the sport moves deeper into this new technical era, the consolidation of power between manufacturers and customer teams is becoming increasingly apparent. For Alpine, securing a heavyweight investor like Mercedes could provide the financial stability needed to modernize the Enstone facilities, while for Mercedes, it offers a strategic foothold within a rival camp that already utilizes their class-leading Power Unit. While Flavio Briatore plays down his personal involvement in the sale, his admission that a 25% stakeholder is merely a “passenger” suggests that Alpine is comfortable with a partnership that aligns their voting interests with the Silver Arrows. Whether this deal reaches the finish line for the reported half-billion-dollar price tag remains to be seen, but it is clear that the business of F1 is moving as fast as the cars on the Shanghai straight.
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