Mercedes in Talks for 24% Alpine F1 Stake

Flavio Briatore, executive advisor to the Alpine Formula 1 team, confirmed on Friday that Mercedes is among three or four serious buyers negotiating to acquire a 24 percent minority stake in the team, currently held by American investment group Otro Capital. The discussions surfaced ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, where Briatore emphasized that the talks involve Mercedes as a company rather than team principal Toto Wolff personally.

The stake, originally purchased by Otro Capital in 2023 for approximately 200 million euros, is now valued at around 450 million euros, according to reports. Otro, a consortium that includes high-profile investors such as actor Ryan Reynolds, golfer Rory McIlroy, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and boxer Anthony Joshua, acquired the shares as part of a broader deal valuing Alpine at about 850 million euros at the time. Renault Group, which holds the majority 76 percent ownership, has first refusal rights on the sale, though the process remains between Otro and potential buyers without direct involvement from Alpine's management.

Briatore, speaking during the team principals' press conference, clarified the scope of the...