F1 Titans Toto Wolff and Christian Horner Battle for Strategic 24 Percent Stake in Alpine Racing

Toto Wolff joins the race for Alpine’s 24% stake as Mercedes looks to solidify its long-term strategic partnership and power unit deal through the 2030 season.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 10, 2026, 7:27 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Motorsport.com

A Paddock Power Struggle Beyond the Pit Wall

The landscape of Formula 1 ownership is shifting as Mercedes-AMG F1 Team Principal Toto Wolff reportedly enters the fray to acquire a 24 percent stake in Alpine. This minority interest, currently held by Otro Capital, has become the center of intense speculation following earlier confirmed interest from Christian Horner. While Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore previously acknowledged Horner’s pursuit during the team’s January launch, the emergence of Wolff as a bidder around the season opener in Melbourne adds a new layer of complexity to the paddock's commercial dynamics.

The Tactical Alignment of a Customer Relationship

According to reports from The Telegraph and subsequent confirmations regarding Mercedes’ strategic outlook, the interest is deeply rooted in the existing technical partnership between the two entities. Alpine recently pivoted its operations by shuttering its own power unit project in Viry, electing instead to utilize Mercedes engines and gearboxes until at least 2030. This transition transforms Alpine into a vital customer for Mercedes High Performance Powertrains, making the identity of Alpine’s stakeholders a matter of direct operational significance for the German manufacturer.

Ambitions of a More Senior Executive Role

For Christian Horner, the pursuit of Alpine shares represents a potential path back to the pinnacle of the sport in a capacity that exceeds his previous tenure. Having secured numerous world championships as the head of Red Bull Racing, Horner has frequently signaled that any return to the grid would necessitate a more influential, ownership-based role. Acquiring a portion of the Otro Capital stake would satisfy this ambition, allowing the veteran executive to transition from a managerial figure to a stakeholder with a direct seat at the board table.