Formula 1 had a backstage twist involving Alpine. Mercedes ended negotiations to buy a minority stake in the French team after considering the financial valuation demanded by the current shareholders excessive.
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In recent months, speculation indicated that Mercedes was close to acquiring the 24% of Alpine put up for sale by Otro Capital. The move even fueled rumors that the Enstone team could act as a kind of strategic partner for the German manufacturer on the grid.
According to information cited by BBC Sport, Otro Capital sought a deal that valued Alpine at about US$ 3 billion. Mercedes, however, was working with an estimate between US$ 2.2 billion and US$ 2.4 billion, a difference that ended up making the talks unfeasible. According to sources heard by the publication, “we understand that the discussions were interrupted.”
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Toto Wolff, head of Mercedes, has not yet publicly commented on the matter. With the Germans exiting the negotiations, the question remains about who might acquire the available stake in the team. Christian Horner was previously pointed out as a possible interested party, but the speculation has lost strength in recent months and there is no information about a resumption of talks.
Despite the uncertainty about the future of the shareholding, Alpine continues to undergo important transformations. The team recently announced a master sponsorship agreement with Gucci for the next season. Currently, control of the operation remains with the Renault Group, while the team uses Mercedes power units after ending its own engine program. Flavio Briatore holds the position of executive consultant and acts as team principal.
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