Fresh reports from the UK suggest that Toto Wolff has entered the race alongside Christian Horner to acquire a minority stake in the Alpine F1 Team.

The development comes after confirmation from Flavio Briatore that investment consortium Otro Capital, which bought a 24% share of Alpine in 2023, has held preliminary talks about selling its stake in the team.

Those discussions initially linked former Red Bull Racing boss Horner with a potential move to acquire the shares. However, new reports indicate that Wolff could now be leading a bid backed by Mercedes-Benz, potentially turning the situation into a strategic power play between two of Formula 1’s most influential figures.

Mercedes link could strengthen Alpine ties

A potential investment from Wolff and Mercedes would align with the teams’ growing technical relationship. Starting this season, the Alpine F1 Team has switched to Mercedes power units, marking a significant shift after years of relying on engines developed by the Renault Group.

Should Mercedes become financially involved as well, it could deepen the partnership between the two organizations, potentially giving the German manufacturer greater influence over Alpine’s long-term direction.

Renault approval would be key

Despite the speculation, several hurdles remain before any deal could materialize. The exact size of the rumored Mercedes-backed bid remains unclear, and any sale would ultimately require approval from the Renault Group, which still controls the team.

For now, the reports add another intriguing layer to Formula 1’s off-track politics, with Wolff and Horner potentially competing not just on the grid, but in the boardroom as well.

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