The potential deal between Mercedes and Alpine to buy the stake of Otro Capital in the F1 team has fallen through, due to price calculation.
After Otro Capital paid about 200 million euros to buy a stake in Alpine F1 team in 2023, the company started to speak with potential buyers to sell its holding. The process started in 2025 and is ongoing. Former Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was linked to buyout, leading a consortium.
But Toto Wolff and Mercedes emerged as the key player in negotiations. Alpine F1 executive advisor Flavio Briatore rescued himself from being involved in the matter. He stated that the discussions were related to Otro and the buyer, which didn’t require the team to be involved.
Mercedes-Otro deals fall through for Alpine F1 stake
However, the deal has since fallen through as per BBC, who quoted a source from Renault. “We understand that discussions have stopped,” it said. The report states that pricing became an issue. Otro reportedly demanded 720 million US dollars for 24% stake in the F1 team.
It valued Alpine at three billion US dollars. Mercedes, however, saw the right valuation of the team at 2.2–2.4 billion US dollars. BBC reports that Renault has decided not to continue with any talks on the sale matter. It is unclear if the French manufacturer will retake the stake or start afresh later on.
Alpine-Gucci F1 deal
Meanwhile, there is no latest update on Horner’s bid to re-enter F1 and if this opens a door. He was seen with officials of Chinese car maker BYD recently, who intended to enter F1. In the meantime, Alpine has landed a major title deal with Gucci from 2027 onward – a deal forged by Briatore with the help of Luca de Meo.
De Meo was part of Renault family, but now is the CEO of Gucci’s Kering. The derailed talks of Mercedes taking the stake of Alpine will come as a good news to McLaren and Zak Brown, who opposed the idea of existing teams part owning or investing in other F1 teams, outside the customer deal.
