Flavio Briatore has admitted that Christian Horner is in talks to buy into the Alpine F1 team.

From the moment the Briton was sensationally fired by Red Bull last year there has been speculation over his return to the paddock.

Though replacing Fred Vasseur at Ferrari was always wide of the mark, armed with a pay-off rumoured to be in triple digits - and we're talking in the millions - it was more likely that Horner would look to buy a stake in a team, the most likely being struggling Alpine.

However, while Flavio Briatore admits that there have been "negotiations", he claims to have nothing to do with the potential bid.

The Enstone-based outfit is majority owned by Renault, which is now effectively out of the sport, certainly as a manufacturer, along with a number of investors including Otro Capital, which, along with its partners RedBird Capital Partners and Maximum Effort Investments - collectively known as the Investor Group - bought a 24% equity stake in Alpine in mid-2023. The €200m (£173m) deal effectively valued the team at $900m (£660m).

Maximum Effort Investments, is led by actor Ryan Reynolds, and co-investors include Michael B. Jordan and Wrexham AFC Co-Chairman Rob McElhenney, while the deal saw Alec Scheiner, co-founder and partner of Otro Capital, join Alpine Racing Ltd's Board of Directors.

At the time of the deal it was said that Alpine would benefit from the Investor Group's "expertise in data and technology", what with being "key enablers of marketing and commercial performance".

Talking at the launch of the team's 2026 livery, Briatore confirmed that it is Otro Capital's 24% stake that Horner is looking at, but that the Briton is one of many eyeing a potential buy-in.

"In this moment, there is a lot of confusion," said the Italian, in a masterpiece of understatement. "There are a few groups (interested), He continued, "I don't know how many... six, seven. Every day, there is a new group. Every day, people call me about Otro. I don't care.

"So, if Otro wants to sell their participation in Alpine, the moment somebody buys 24% of Otro, we still have 75%, and we discuss it, for the moment, this is the situation."

Though a close friend of Horner - a situation which is being fully exploited on social media, where both are considered Antichrists - Briatore insists that he is not involved in the talks.

"I've known Christian for many years," he said. "I talk with Christian anyway, but this has nothing to do with me.

"First, you need to buy Otro's shareholding, after Renault needs to accept the buyer, and after that, we see what will happen. But there's no link with me, because he's negotiating with Otro, he's not negotiating with us."

Asked if Horner would be good for the team, the Italian replied: "I think everybody's a good asset to the team, depending on what position you put the people. No problem."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by ffracer, 26/01/2026 8:45

"@Geeza1966 - I think my comments were ambiguous. I commend Flavio Briatore and Christian Horner with their incredible ability to source the best people - drivers, management and engineers - in order to build superior teams and on multiple occasions. Flavio signing Michael Schumacher was brilliant (Zak Brown and his legal team, decades later, scooping up Oscar Piastri after confirming that he wasn't bound to a signed contract was just as brilliant). I think the Contract Review Board was formed because of this, forcing F1 to improve to the corporate world of binding contracts. Christian Horner's a genius when it comes to arguing for his team or for an issue. My concern with Flavio, in particular, is all the terrifying sinister stuff that he is capable of and responsible for in order to fulfill his objective... and I am not just referring to cheating Benetton traction control or manipulating races... enough said. Christian Horner has Flavio's respect because he is one of the very few that can handle him, credit to Horner. Let's see how this all unfolds."

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2. Posted by Geeza1966, 25/01/2026 23:26

"Lol.... Chester, ffracer & JamesD.... Great comments from all... Luv reading your contributions too!!! Yes, Flav is now looking like the after advert in a failed youth pill operation and Horner still as slippery and self obsessed as he always was... I have always admired what both have achieved in F1 over the years, but its more about how they actually achieved it that grates on me... You could argue that Flav put together the all conquering Benetton team in the 1990's off the back of basically riding roughshod all over Eddie Jordan and nicking Schumacher... I don't think John Barnard has many positive memories of his particular management style.... And Horner has DC to thank for persuading a certain Adrian Newey to jump ship from McLaren and join the newly formed Red Bull team.... It would be really interesting to see just how much success RB would have achieved without the worlds greatest designer at the helm..... Again, fair play to them both for their respective achievements... But its off the back of someone elses' brilliance in my humble opinion.... Just a thought...."

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3. Posted by ffracer, 25/01/2026 15:51

"@pitpass.com editor - I need to commend you, once again, on the most tasteful portrait photo choice of everyone's favorite grease stain. Just want to slap the smug, condescending smirk off his face.

What a photo. Need to ask Roberto Moreno about him again lolol!"

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4. Posted by JamesD, 25/01/2026 15:44

"Flav the Chav and the Ginger Whinger both at Alpine ? Jeez, double trouble is an understatement !!"

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5. Posted by ffracer, 25/01/2026 15:40

"@Chester and @ Geeza1966 - always enjoy reading your informed responses, always exudes passion!

Everyone loves a villain: I'll give you tfhat... in most cases. Flavio Briatore uuugh... his tactics are so sleazy though, guys... you would need to hear it from anyone who ever worked for him, drivers or lolly drivers lol. Seriously, and to his credit, from the first time he ran the Benetton team, F1 driver market took notice... but when he bit@chslapped the late Eddie Jordan into sobriety, the F1 circus learned how the true corporate white sharks do business and the world fanbase grew up. The Singapore scandal finally showed how ethical he isn't . Every sport has problems with race/game fixing but, with Flavio: it's not if, it's when. He looks better behind bars. "

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6. Posted by Geeza1966, 24/01/2026 22:47

"Well I suppose if a man lives long enough he gets to see everything go full circle eh?? Now we should all be looking forward to the Singapore GP where Emperor Flavio instructs Darth Horner to instruct Colapinto Jr to crash to allow the safety car to benefit Gasly Snr in his quest to win a race for the skint and "Hopelessly looking for investment before I stitch someone else up to buy it" Alpine BWT F1 Team "But in with a shout due to Merc engines" Cant wait to see who chucks the baby out with the bathwater first... Maybe we could get Bernie back to open a book on it eh???? I'd certainly buy a couple of hugely overpriced tickets to join in!!!! Oh how we laughed....."

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7. Posted by Chester, 24/01/2026 16:46

"Pour quoi pas? Why not? F1 is more exciting when there are villains. Well, villains in the eye of the beholder, anyway.

I'd love to see it. And I'd love to see them both make a strong comeback. I'm very susceptible to redemption attempts. I live for them- and the more improbable the better for me.

Folks rooting against you to make good, but you make it anyway. "

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8. Posted by ffracer, 24/01/2026 13:13

"Personally, he makes me cringe... but F1 lifted the ban and he's back. As such, Flavio Briatore had taken the helm at Renault and beat them all... twice. His achievements as a team boss and as an F1 engine builder is impressive. Together with a force and absolute pitbull like Christian Horner, a multi world champion himself, would make an incredible combination and, armed with their combined list of contacts and code of ethics, should strike fear up and down the pitlane. "

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9. Posted by Wokingchap, 24/01/2026 12:37

"What a pair !"

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Horner "negotiating" Alpine buy-in, admits Briatore

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