With $897M worth backing Christian Horner ready to buy major stake in backmarker team: Reports

Former Red Bull boss Christian Horner has been linked to multiple F1 teams since his exit from the Milton Keynes-based outfit. As per the latest reports, the British engineer is ready to buy a stake in Alpine, which finished last in the constructors' championship, with $897M worth of backing from investors.

Soon after Christian Horner parted ways with Red Bull Racing, reports of the Briton being in talks with Alpine started circling the paddock. Over the next few months, rumors of Horner being in talks with Aston Martin F1 for the Team Principal role also circled the paddock.

However, later reports suggested that Horner was interested in making a comeback as team boss, along with a share in the team. Flavio Briatore, who is a good friend of the Briton, reportedly had a talk with Horner, as well it was suggested that Gene Haas would be open to investment in the team.

An earlier report from December suggested that Christian Horner is set to buy a minority stake in Alpine, which is currently held by a consortium including Otro Capital, Red-Bird Capital Partners, and Maximum Effort Investments, who acquired a 24% stake in 2023.

F1 Grand Prix of Spain - Practice - Source: Getty

There have been developments regarding the early December reports and the latest claim that Christian Horner has assembled a consortium of investors offering a total of $897M to acquire a stake in the team.

“Horner has already assembled a financially powerful consortium of investors to prepare for the purchase of a majority stake in the Franco-British racing team. According to the report, he and his partners are offering €763 million ($897M) for the takeover, which is expected to be finalized in the coming days,” read the report by AMuS who gave credits to De Telegraaf.

Otro Capital and others in the consortium are willing to sell their stake in the team. However, it isn't yet confirmed how much stake Renault would have to give up for the total sum being offered by the Christian Horner-led investor.

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Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff reflects on parting ways with Christian Horner

Christian Horner was sacked by Red Bull Racing on July 9, 2025, just days after the British GP. The sacking came after the allegations of harassing an employee against the former TP, a power struggle at the team between Horner, Helmut Marko, Verstappen’s camp, and a poor start to the 2025 season.

Red Bull GmbH CEO Oliver Mintzlaff came out and spoke with De Telegraaf after the 2025 season ended, and reflected on Horner's sacking.

“I don't want to call it a risk, because we were one hundred percent behind this measure. Because we knew we had to do something. I'm not a so-called hire and fire manager, someone who just fires people,” said Mintzlaff and he went on to hail Horner for his track record. “But this is also part of a professional organization. You can't keep leaning on history and we felt it was time to turn the page and start a new chapter. That was not an easy decision, but we didn't go on one night of ice either,” added Mintzlaff

Helmut Marko also came out after announcing his retirement from Red Bull and suggested that Max Verstappen would've won the 2025 F1 title if Horner had been sacked earlier.

Edited by Pranay Bhagi