The Alpine Formula 1 team was valued at US$3.5 billion by the Renault Group during negotiations over Otro Capital’s 24% stake. The information was disclosed by Flavio Briatore, who stated that there is an offer for the investment firm’s stake valuing it at US$3.2 billion.
In an interview with Darren Cox, in the series “In Conversation With…”, on The Race Business, Briatore challenged Forbes’ US$2.45 billion valuation of the French team: “No, we are more,” he said. “We have an [offer] for the 24% of Otro, the valuation [is of] 3.2 [billion]. So we have 40% of Renault’s valuation. Renault as a whole is worth 8.3. And we are working with this 3.5 [billion] valuation. So we represent 40% or 50%.”
Otro Capital bought 24% of Alpine in 2023 for US$200 million, in a deal that valued the team at US$900 million. The investment firm counts among its investors names such as Ryan Reynolds, Travis Kelce, and Rory McIlroy.
Two years later, Otro is seeking to sell its stake in the Formula 1 team. Christian Horner, the former head of Red Bull, has already submitted an offer for the stake, but the asking price would be close to Alpine’s total valuation at the time of the purchase.
Despite the negotiations, Renault maintains control of the process. Documents filed in the United Kingdom indicate that Otro cannot freely transfer its stake before September 2026, and the carmaker would have the right to approve a potential sale.
Briatore stated that a new partner needs to contribute more than just financial investment. “Of course, to have a partner with 24%, I hope someone not only brings funding but also helps with technology or whatever else, or with finance. But by September, I think nothing drastic will happen, because I see it as very difficult for someone to buy 24% of a company without a majority agreement. Renault is negotiating. From the team’s point of view, it doesn’t matter to me. We have Otro, tomorrow we’ll have another person.”
The Renault Group CEO, Francois Provost, emphasized that the company intends to keep Alpine under its control and told the Press Association in June that there are no talks with Horner. “There is no discussion today with Christian. We are evaluating options. I want the Renault Group to maintain control of our team, whoever succeeds Otro.”
Provost also stressed that the situation involving Otro Capital does not change the team’s management: “First, this Otro issue does not affect us as a team at all because we are in control. And the second point is that we will maintain control of our Formula 1 team. Alpine is an independent team, and we intend to keep control,” he said.
