BREAKING NEWS: Christian Horner ‘Offering’ £665 Million for Shock  F1 Team Takeover… Read more

Christian Horner ‘Offering’ £665 Million for Shock  F1 Team Takeover

 

By Hugo Harvey

Christian Horner is edging closer to a dramatic return to Formula 1, with growing reports suggesting the former Red Bull Racing team principal is preparing a £665 million move to take control of the Alpine F1 team. After months of speculation surrounding his future following his exit from Red Bull, fresh updates from continental media indicate that Horner’s comeback could be imminent and transformational.

Horner Poised for Swift F1 Return

According to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, Horner has been in advanced discussions with Alpine, the Enstone-based team owned by Renault, with the intention of securing a significant ownership stake. Those claims have now been strengthened by German publication Auto Motor und Sport, which reports that Horner is already in the process of acquiring shares and expects the transaction to be finalised within days.

If confirmed, the move would mark one of the most high-profile management returns in modern F1 history. Horner spent two decades at the helm of Red Bull Racing, overseeing its rise from midfield hopefuls to a dominant championship-winning force. However, his tenure came to an abrupt end midway through the troubled 2025 season, when Red Bull’s senior management decided a change was necessary following a sustained dip in performance.

From Red Bull Exit to Alpine Ambition

Horner’s departure after the British Grand Prix at Silverstone sent shockwaves through the paddock. While Red Bull cited the need for a new direction, insiders suggested that internal tensions and power struggles had intensified in recent seasons. For Horner, the exit did not signal retirement. Instead, it appears to have accelerated his ambition to return to Formula 1 on his own terms.

Ferrari and Aston Martin were briefly linked with the 51-year-old, but those rumours quickly cooled. Ferrari’s structure remains tightly controlled from Maranello, while Aston Martin opted to stabilise its leadership by confirming Adrian Newey as team principal from 2026. Alpine, by contrast, presents an opportunity Horner has never previously enjoyed: outright control.

£665 Million Consortium Takes Shape

Reports indicate that Horner has assembled a powerful consortium of investors, raising approximately €763 million equivalent to around £665 million to fund the takeover. This figure underlines both the seriousness of the bid and the growing financial valuation of Formula 1 teams under the current Concorde Agreement.

Alpine’s ownership structure has already shifted in recent years. In 2023, a group led by Otro Capital, RedBird Capital Partners, and Maximum Effort Investments an investment vehicle involving Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds purchased around 24 percent of the team. These shares are now believed to be central to Horner’s strategy, with his investor group preparing to acquire a majority stake.

German media suggest Horner’s goal is clear: sole control. At Red Bull, despite his influence, he remained an employee rather than an owner. That limitation, combined with ongoing internal disputes, is believed to have contributed to his eventual removal. Alpine offers a clean slate and authority to match his experience.

Leadership Shake-Up Looms at Alpine

Alpine is currently overseen by Flavio Briatore, who returned to an influential role amid Renault’s ongoing restructuring, with Steve Nielsen appointed managing director in September. However, Horner’s arrival would almost certainly trigger another reshuffle.

At 75, Briatore is widely viewed as a short-term stabilising figure rather than a long-term architect. Should Horner secure majority ownership, his operational philosophy and hands-on leadership style could significantly reduce Briatore’s influence, if not end his tenure altogether.

A Defining Moment for Alpine and F1

For Alpine, the prospect of Horner’s leadership represents both risk and opportunity. The team has struggled for consistency in recent seasons, oscillating between midfield contention and internal uncertainty. Horner’s proven ability to build championship-winning structures from technical leadership to driver management could provide the clarity and ambition Alpine has lacked.

For Formula 1, the move would signal a new era in which elite team principals transition into ownership roles, reshaping the sport’s power dynamics. With teams now valued in the hundreds of millions, Horner’s reported £665 million offer reflects both his confidence and F1’s booming commercial landscape.

While official confirmation is still pending, momentum is clearly building. If the deal is completed as expected, Christian Horner’s return will not simply be a comeback it will be a takeover that could redefine Alpine’s future and send fresh ripples through the Formula 1 paddock.

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