Alpine has insisted once again that its team is not for sale following Nico Rosberg’s claim that he was offered a stake in the beleaguered F1 outfit.
The French team has undergone significant changes in recent times, including the appointment of Flavio Briatore as a special advisor and the replacement of Bruno Famin with Hightech founder Oli Oakes as team principal.
These changes, coupled with the ongoing discussions about Renault's power unit program, have fueled speculation about the team's future.
Speaking during Sky F1’s coverage of Saturday’s final practice at the Italian Grand Prix, Rosberg responded to a question by anchor David Croft regarding persistent rumors of Alpine organizing itself for a future sale.
“Oh, it’s in my email. I have a secondary opportunity in my email to buy part of Alpine,” Rosberg said, leaving his broadcasting colleagues stunned
“Yeah, I should have brought the details. I can do that tomorrow!” he added as Karun Chandhok laughed “You can’t just lob that into FP3 commentary!”
The 2016 F1 world champion was then asked if he was considering investing in the Enstone squad.
“No! So even Alpine is highly profitable. Of course, that could all change…” he said.
Rosberg’s comment appeared to ruffle a few feathers at Alpine which responded with a statement to the media denying the former Grand Prix driver’s claim.
“This statement is incorrect and we would like to clarify that the team is not selling more shares, beyond the 24 percent stake already sold to the Investor Group (Otro Capital, RedBird Capital Partners, and Maximum Effort Investments) acquired in June 2023,” a spokesperson confirmed to Speedcafe.
“The Investor Group includes a number of international athletes and sports investors, and the Investor Group are constantly looking out for potential new investors as part of their existing 24 percent stake in the team.
“We reiterate what top management have said previously, the team is categorically not for sale.”
Despite the rumors and uncertainty, Alpine has been making some strategic decisions that suggest a focus on rebuilding and future success.
Alpine techncial director David Sanchez and team boss Oliver Oakes.
The promotion of Jack Doohan from the Alpine Academy reflects the team’s commitment to its pipeline of talent.
Additionally, the hiring of David Sanchez earlier this year also indicates a proactive approach to strengthening the team’s technical side.
Renault CEO Luca de Meo's presence at Monza during the Italian Grand Prix weekend further underscores the significance of the current period for Alpine.
However, the team's performance on track has been less than stellar, with Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon qualifying 14th and 15th, respectively, in Monza.
As it stands, Alpine sits eighth in the Constructors' Championship, with 13 points—nine more than Williams, but less than half of what Haas has accumulated in seventh.
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