The possible sale of a stake in Alpine has been stirring the Formula 1 paddock. In recent days, Toto Wolff‘s name has become associated with the purchase of the stake, but the negotiation would not involve a personal investment from the executive, but rather from the Mercedes team itself.
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The stake for sale corresponds to 24% of Alpine and currently belongs to Otro Capital. The investment group, which brings together actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, as well as golfer Rory McIlroy, paid US$ 233 million for the stake in 2023.
Even though it is a minority position, the asset sparks interest due to the valuation of teams under the current Concorde Agreement and the growth in F1’s popularity, especially in the United States. With more races and higher revenue, teams have become worth much more — Alpine, for example, is currently estimated at around € 3 billion, more than double what it was three years ago.
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In the paddock, there is speculation about the strategy behind the possible purchase. It could just be a financial investment, but some also see an attempt to gain a position in a team whose future is considered uncertain.
The possible negotiation also reinforces Formula 1’s transformation into a model increasingly close to that of sports franchises, similar to the NFL, where the owners’ focus is increasingly on business and revenue growth.
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