Flavio Briatore explains Toto Wolff Alpine collapse as Christian Horner lurks

Flavio Briatore has explained why Toto Wolff and Mercedes' attempt to buy shares in Alpine failed as Christian Horner continues to lurk in the background. 

Earlier this week, it was revealed that Wolff and Mercedes were pulling out of a bid to buy 24% of the Alpine team, with the shares owned by Otro Capital. 

However, it is understood that Mercedes felt the price being demanded for the Otro shares was too high, with reports claiming $720m (£536m) was being demanded - a figure which would value Alpine at $3bn - £2.2bn. 

This would represent nearly a £350m increase on the £171m Otro paid to buy the shares in June 2023.

Explaining what had gone on with Wolff, Briatore was adamant that the discussions had nothing to do with Alpine itself, but that Wolff had simply felt the "price was too high."

"Otro is nothing to do with the team, it is a Hedge Fund which bought 24% of the team two years ago, and at the moment, wants to sell," Briatore told media, including RacingNews365. 

"As everybody knows, it was negotiating with Toto Wolff and the Mercedes team, but three days ago, the agreement and negotiation failed, which can happen. 

"It had nothing to do with the team. We don't have any pressure from the Renault Group regarding Otro. It is really the problem of the Renault Group and not a problem of the Alpine team."

When asked why talks with Wolff had failed, Briatore simply surmised that the "price was too high" and that whilst "Toto, in all the negotiations, was very fair," he did not think "the Otro people are fair."

Turning to the other interested party in the Otro shares, and Christian Horner, Briatore, who is a close friend to the former Red Bull boss, declared that he was "happy to accept whatever solution" Renault decided.

"Otro is a Renault group problem, and there are a lot of negotiations around different teams, different people, including Christian," he said.

"For me, whatever solution is found by Renault, I'm happy to accept, but whatever is accepted by Otro needs to have the blessing of Renault. 

"I find it very difficult for somebody to spend $600 million to buy a minority in one company if it is not agreed with the majority. I don't understand the politics of Otro."

When specifically asked about the possibility of working with Horner, Briatore signalled he would be happy to work with him.

"I'd be happy to work with anybody," Briatore added.

"At the moment, I don't know if Christian is involved in the group that wants to buy Otro or not, but for me, I have zero problems with Christian.

"I have a super relationship with Christian. I have known him for 20 years, and it is super, zero problems. 

"But you need to talk with the Renault group, not with me."