Wolff downplays the notion of Alpine being regarded as a 'junior team' of Mercedes.
"I'm emphasizing this clearly"
Toto Wolff has definitively dismissed the speculation that Alpine could essentially become a junior team for Mercedes, amid ongoing talks regarding the sale of a minority stake in the Enstone-based team.
Recent reports suggested that Mercedes is a possible buyer for the 24 percent share being offered by the American hedge fund Otro Capital, with Christian Horner and a group of investors also linked to the stake.
The speculation gained traction since Alpine has already transitioned to Mercedes customer power units after Renault concluded its works engine program in preparation for the new regulatory cycle in Formula 1.
However, Wolff has refuted any notions that this shift could make Alpine a satellite team for the German manufacturer. "No," he stated to L’Equipe. "And I’m emphasizing this clearly. NO. We do not want a junior team. Period."
Nevertheless, the Mercedes team principal did not explicitly rule out interest in the minority stake itself. Otro Capital acquired its 24 percent stake in Alpine in mid-2023 for approximately 200 million euros, while Renault Group holds the remaining 76 percent.
At that time, the investment consortium included several prominent figures from the sports and entertainment sectors. Alpine advisor Flavio Briatore recently indicated that three or four potential buyers, including Mercedes, are currently considering the stake, although he highlighted that the minority share does not provide any operational control.
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