The Renault Group has appointed its Head of Mergers and Acquisitions, Guillaume Rossi, as Alpine‘s Chief Financial Officer amid potential Formula 1 buy-out rumors.
Speculation has been rife with respect to the Anglo-French marque’s fate, at least in terms of its ownership and management in F1.
Former Red Bull Team Principal and CEO Christian Horner was, as recently as February, being tipped to buy out a minority stake from holders Otro Capital.
And while those reports have fizzled out somewhat since, Alpine’s managerial moves have certainly not let the idea of Otro Capital’s 24% stake in the team being up for sale quell.
Rossi’s appointment – who replaces Duncan Minto – as CFO has only piqued such theories.
The Frenchman, interestingly, will bring a swathe of experience though not in motorsport governance but in strategic venture investment.
But if Otro Capital is to sell its stake, it would not be everybody’s cup of tea. As things stand, that 24% would cost a potential buyer anywhere upwards of $600 million.
Is Alpine F1 up for sale to Mercedes?
Horner’s seeming interest in buying his way back into the paddock was, almost poetically, crushed by none other than Toto Wolff.
The Enstone-based team recently revoked its own works status to become a Mercedes customer outfit and it would appear that the Silver Arrows could become more than just engine and gearbox suppliers.
Reports suggest the German marque to be inspired by Red Bull’s ‘B-team’ arrangement with its eyes on Alpine to turn it into its own Racing Bulls.
Acting Team Principal Flavio Briatore has confirmed talks with Wolff over a potential deal, however, no amount of certainty can be attached to what looks currently like only preliminary discussions.
Alpine have enjoyed a relatively successful start to the 2026 campaign. Three rounds in, their technical partnership with Mercedes, sees the team sit fifth in the Constructors’ standings – locked in battle with the likes of Haas and Red Bull.
In fact, looking forward to the rest of the season, it hopes to catch up to the leading duo of McLaren and Ferrari.
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