Alpine F1 closes €200 million deal with US investor group

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The Alpine F1 team has completed the €200 million sale announced last June of a 24% holding in the team to a group of US investors, a transaction that officially values the Enstone squad at approximately $900 million.

The investment group is comprised of Otro Capital, RedBird Capital Partners and Maximum Effort Investments, the latter led by Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds who, along with fellow Alpine investor Rob McElhenney also owns Wrexham FC.

Furthermore, Otro Capital's co-founder Alec Scheiner has joined Alpine Racing’s board as a director along with Alpine Cars CEO Philippe Krief and general counsel Michaell Smith.

Last October, Otro revealed that it had added a slate of sporting personalities to its consortium of investors, including golfer Rory McIlroy, boxer Anthony Joshua, footballers Trent Alexander-Arnold and Juan Mata, and NFL legends Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.

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Otro said at the time this its group investors would combine their premium expertise across different areas of the sports ecosystem and help drive the Alpine F1 team’s reach to a world of new fans.

In a report from Motorsport.com, Alpine team principal Bruno Famin detailed the investment group’s contribution to the French outfit’s F1 endeavors.

“What they are bringing is first trust in the project, which is very important,” Famin said.

“If you have people investing a lot of money in your company that means that people trust and believe that the project will work. That's the very first thing, and we are very happy with that.

Hollywood actor and Alpine investor Ryan Reynolds with Esteban Ocon.

“And the second thing they will bring which is very important as well is that they are very strong and very connected to potential partners and sponsors, and they will help us on that field."

Famin said that Alpine has benefitted from the outset of the group’s involvement.

"It's already in action,” he added. “Now we don't see the fruit yet of course, because it takes a bit of time, but it's already in action.

“There was no delay, and everything is working from day one the deal has been done."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.