Ecclestone, Horner and Briatore at Alpine F1 would be like ‘mafia reunion’, says Wolff

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has joked it would be like a ‘mafia reunion’ should Christian Horner, Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore combine for an ownership stake in the Alpine Formula 1 outfit.

Horner was sacked as Red Bull team principal in July and his next step is not yet known, but paddock rumours have suggested the 51-year-old is looking to invest in an F1 team.

Alpine has been seen as a genuine possibility due to his friendship with executive adviser Briatore, who alongside ex-F1 boss Ecclestone may act as an investor backing Horner’s bid. 

“That would be an exciting story, I guess, and would create lots of buzz around Formula 1,” said Wolff on Friday during the Dutch Grand Prix weekend.

“I think we need that. Formula 1 has always been about the best racing with exciting drivers and great personalities.

“I feel that when you look back at the grand era of team owners and team principals – Frank Williams and Ron Dennis, Flavio, [Luca di] Montezemolo and a few others – maybe we need to work on that.

“If there was such an exciting project, these three guys coming together, all of the mafia reunited, that would give good content.”

The Renault Group owns a majority stake in the Alpine F1 team, but 24% belongs to US-based investment firm Otro Capital, which includes several high-profile athletes like Anthony Joshua, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Rory McIlroy. Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are also part of the consortium.

So Horner, Ecclestone and Briatore wouldn’t be the first well-known individuals to claim minority ownership in the team, but Briatore denied any chance of it happening.

“I’m not considering in this moment anything,” said Briatore, who led Renault to F1 championship wins in 2005 and 2006.

“Christian is not in Formula 1 in this moment anymore, I hope he comes back soon, but for the moment he’s not in the picture of Alpine.”