Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is reportedly in talks with New York-based private investment firm MSP Sports Capital about acquiring a controlling interest in the Alpine F1 team.
The talks come only months after MSP sold its stake in McLaren Racing in September 2025, a highly profitable move that sparked immediate speculation that the firm was not finished with Formula 1 – merely repositioning.
Now, it appears MSP may be plotting a return, this time alongside one of the sport’s most recognisable leadership figures. The investment firm is apparently part of a wider circle of high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutional investors who have been in dialogue with Horner about backing his “next deal” in Formula 1.
The implication is clear: Horner is not just fielding offers – he may be assembling a financial war chest.
Horner’s Exit – and the Door Left Ajar
Horner’s departure from Red Bull in July 2025, when he was replaced by former Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies, marked the end of a 21-year tenure that delivered multiple world championships and cemented his status as one of the sport’s most influential figures.
Since then, he has been repeatedly linked with various teams, advisory roles, and ownership rumours.
Yet Horner himself has struck a measured tone when addressing the speculation, insisting that any return would need to meet very specific criteria.
"Well, look, so far I've been going to pretty much every team on the grid," Horner told TODAY when asked about the recent rumours.
"I've spoken very little publicly since I left Red Bull. It's flattering that there's often this speculation that I'm going to this team or that team, but that's rife in Formula 1.
"I'd only come back for the right opportunity, working with the right people that are like-minded and want to win. I've got no interest in just taking part."
He also hinted that a future role would look markedly different from the one that defined his career.
"Look, I've done my shift, I think. If I were to come back, it would be in a slightly different role to the one that I performed for the last 21 years or so. So we'll see,” he said.
"The interest in the sport is sky-high. There's some fantastic people that want to invest in Formula 1. But I'm in no rush.
“If my career stops at the end of my time at Red Bull, I've had an incredible run, and as I say, I'd only come back for something that was genuinely exciting and something that could ultimately win."
Alpine in the Spotlight – But Questions Remain
For Alpine, the reported talks add another layer to an already complex narrative surrounding the Renault-owned outfit.
The French manufacturer has previously shown openness to outside investment, but Renault has so far not confirmed whether it is ready to sell a controlling interest in the team – a crucial detail that could determine whether Horner’s discussions evolve into something tangible or remain paddock gossip.
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Still, the optics are powerful. A former championship-winning team boss, a freshly liquid private equity firm eager to re-enter the grid, and a team searching for competitive and financial momentum form a combination that is difficult for the Formula 1 world to ignore.
Whether this is the early stage of a seismic ownership shift or merely another chapter in F1’s endless swirl of intrigue, one thing is certain: Christian Horner’s name continues to command attention long after he stepped away from the Red Bull garage. And in Formula 1, attention often precedes action.
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