Christian Horner could return to F1 to buy team in ‘mafia reunion’ with two legends, claims Toto Wolff

TOTO WOLFF would welcome Christian Horner back to the paddock to form a “mafia reunion” with Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore to buy Alpine.

Horner was sacked as Red Bull team principal in July but rumours have been swirling that the 51-year-old is looking to invest in an F1 team.

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Alpine has been touted as a possible destination due to his friendship with executive adviser Briatore.

Briatore could act as an investor to back Horner’s bid, alongside ex-F1 boss Ecclestone who was removed from F1 CEO in 2017 after Liberty Media took over.

Mercedes boss Wolff said: “That would be an exciting story, I guess, and would create lots of buzz around Formula One

“I think we need that.

“F1 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 around 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, I guess.

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“The shark mafia. Three sharks.”

The Renault Group owns a majority stake in the Alpine F1 team, but 24 per cent belongs to US-based investment firm Otro Capital.

This includes several high-profile athletes like Anthony Joshua, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Rory McIlroy while 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.

Briatore has denied any chance of it happening any time soon.

He added: “I’m not considering in this moment anything,

“Christian is not in F1 in this moment anymore.

“I hope he comes back soon, but for the moment he’s not in the picture of Alpine.”

F1 2025

THE new Formula One season is well underway – and one team appear to be running away with it.

A massive summer of change saw Lewis Hamilton move on from Mercedes and join Ferrari, while the McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have a big chance to end Max Verstappen‘s recent dominance.

The Red Bull ace is aiming for a record-equalling FIFTH consecutive world title.

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