Christian Horner is back in Formula 1!?

By Erin Malik

Debunked: Is Christian Horner set to buy Alpine?

Alpine has recently confirmed rumours that former Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner is involved in a consortium aiming to buy a 24% stake in the team.

Christian Horner has been out of work since he was sacked by Red Bull last July following performance failures from the team and the lasting effects of an internal misconduct investigation in 2024.

Alpine, who finished at the bottom of the Constructors Championship in the 2025 season, is currently in talks with multiple investors to attempt to sell the stake in the team that is currently owned by private equity firm Otro Capital. The original purchasers of the 24% share included ‘high profile investors like Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds and golfer Rory McIlroy’, according to the Formula 1 website.

A statement from Alpine confirmed that ‘it is no secret that Otro Capital has held preliminary talks to sell its stake in the team’. The statement continued by revealing that one of the parties to ‘express an interest is a group of investors, which also includes Christian Horner’.

Christian Horner served as Red Bull Team Principal throughout Red Bull’s first 20 years in Formula 1, from their 2005 entry into the sport until he was removed from his position in July 2025. During his time at the team, he assisted Red Bull in gaining six Constructors’ Championships and eight Drivers’ Championships.

In 2024, however, allegations were made against Horner by a female colleague, accusing him of ‘inappropriate behaviour’. Although Horner was cleared of the allegations twice, his sacking came partially as a result of the continued controversy and the decrease in team performance. Red Bull finished the 2025 season third in the Constructors’ Championship and second in the Drivers’ Championship.

The remaining 76% of Alpine is currently owned by Renault, despite their power unit operations ceasing at the end of the 2025 season. As a result of this, Alpine has switched to Mercedes Power engines for the 2026 season, which have produced some of the most dominant engines in the sport over recent years.