Wolff Seeks 'Mafia Reunion' as Horner Plans Alpine Stake

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has expressed enthusiasm for a potential collaboration involving Christian Horner, Bernie Ecclestone, and Flavio Briatore to take ownership of the Alpine Formula 1 team, referring to such a reunion as a 'mafia reunion' or 'shark mafia' that would generate significant buzz and revive the spirit of F1's golden era of strong personalities and team leaders. Horner, recently sacked as Red Bull's team principal, has been linked with an investment in Alpine, where Briatore serves as executive adviser, while Ecclestone, the former F1 CEO, could also back the bid. Despite Wolff's support for the idea and recognition of its excitement, Briatore has publicly dismissed the rumors, stating that Horner is currently not involved with Alpine and that no such plans are being considered. Alpine's ownership is primarily held by Renault Group, with a 24% minority stake owned by the US-based investment firm Otro Capital, which includes notable athletes and entertainers. Wolff emphasized that Formula 1 benefits from having strong, charismatic figures like Horner, Ecclestone, and Briatore and suggested that their reunion could help revitalize the sport's competitive and entertainment appeal. The prospect remains speculative, with key figures denying current engagement, but Wolff's comments highlight the potential positive impact such a supergroup could have on F1.