Overview
- FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said at the Miami Grand Prix on Monday that he expects and welcomes Christian Horner’s return to Formula 1.
- Ben Sulayem confirmed the FIA is examining whether owning stakes in more than one F1 team should be allowed, saying he is personally against one organization controlling two teams.
- The 24% Alpine stake held by investor group Otro Capital is up for sale, with a Horner-linked consortium and Mercedes among reported suitors, and Alpine figure Flavio Briatore has said talks with Mercedes are with the company rather than Toto Wolff personally.
- Any FIA move to curb multi-team ownership could block a Mercedes purchase of the Alpine stake and might force existing multi-team owners such as Red Bull to sell their junior outfit, Racing Bulls.
- Otro’s minority holding is reported to include influence over key hires at Alpine, Renault is said to hold an option on who can buy the stake until September, and industry voices like McLaren’s Zak Brown have publicly backed Horner’s return, though no deal has been agreed.