An investment firm, known for involving various sports celebrities in Formula 1 by having a stake in the Alpine team, is reportedly considering selling its shares. Otro Capital was part of a group that acquired nearly a quarter of the Enstone-based team in 2023.
Celebrities like Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who also own Wrexham AFC, acquired a portion of the team through their firm, Maximum Effort Investments. Notably, other prominent figures involved in the investment included golfer Rory McIlroy, boxer Anthony Joshua, footballers Juan Mata and Trent Alexander-Arnold, as well as Super Bowl champions Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
Reports indicate that Otro Capital has initiated talks about selling its stake in the Alpine team. The team’s value stood at around £685 million when the investment was made two years ago, reflecting the growing popularity of F1 worldwide and the subsequent rise in team valuations.
Despite the potential profit from their initial investment, discussions on the sale are said to be in early stages. It remains uncertain if Reynolds, McElhenney, or RedBird Capital Partners, also part of the consortium, are contemplating a sell-off. Alpine’s current position at the bottom of the constructors’ championship, with only 20 points scored this season, adds complexity to the decision.
Alpine’s performance this year has been lackluster, partly due to focusing resources on the upcoming 2026 season instead of car development. The team will switch to Mercedes power units next season, aiming to improve performance as their current Renault engines lag behind competitors.
The team is yet to announce its driver lineup for 2026, with Pierre Gasly already secured under contract. Speculation surrounds Franco Colapinto’s future following a scoreless season, with possible news before the Brazilian Grand Prix next weekend.
In other news, Sky has reduced the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, offering savings and over 1,400 live matches across various leagues. The upcoming season will see Sky broadcasting a minimum of 215 live Premier League games, a significant increase from previous seasons.