Christian Horner eyes up $896million F1 team purchase

Horner in Red Bull kit looking concerned with a background of the F1 grid and a pile of US dollars — Photo: © IMAGO

Formula 1

Christian Horner eyes up $896million F1 team purchase

Horner is eyeing up a return to F1

Originally written by Remy Ramjiawan. This version is a translation.

Wednesday 31 December 2025 19:00

Christian Horner has been linked to an F1 return in the foreign media, which could include a staggering takeover.

De Telegraaf recently revealed that Horner was in talks with Alpine for his return, and that he was also pursuing a stake in the team.

Now, German outlet Auto Motor und Sport have provided an update, claiming that Horner is currently busy acquiring shares in the French outfit and expects the process to be wrapped up within days.

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Horner spent 20 years as the face of Red Bull Racing but couldn’t turn around the struggling 2025 season.

Following this year's race at Silverstone, the Austrian team’s management decided to make a change and removed him from his position.

Horner Alpine rumours build as share sale expected

Earlier reports by De Telegraaf revealed that Horner had already put together a consortium of investors aiming to secure a majority stake in Alpine.

He has reportedly raised €763 million for the takeover, which translates to around $896million.

In 2023, investors such as Otro Capital, RedBird Capital Partners, and Maximum Effort Investments—the latter including Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds—acquired roughly 24 percent of the team.

This portfolio of shares now appears to be part of Horner’s strategic plan, with his consortium of investors preparing for the purchase of a majority stake.

German media sources suggest that Horner is after sole control—a goal he couldn’t achieve at Red Bull Racing due to his status as an employee.

Lingering power struggles over recent years were also cited as factors behind Aston Martin’s decision to step back and appoint Adrian Newey as team principal for 2026.

At Alpine, Flavio Briatore is currently at the helm with Steve Nielsen also welcomed as managing director back in September.

However, the arrival of Horner could mean another reshuffle of leadership at Alpine, where 75-year-old Briatore could potentially see his role diminished.

F1 Christian Horner