![\"Renault](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/XPB_1422502_HiRes.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRenault CEO Francois Provost has criticised Alpine\u2019s celebrity investor group. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRenault CEO Francois Provost has criticised Alpine\u2019s celebrity investor group. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
Otro owns a 24 percent stake in Alpine Racing, having joined RedBird Capital Partners and Maximum Effort Investments in a 200 million-euro ($329 million AUD) deal announced in 2023.<\/p>\n The investment group brought high-profile celebrities including Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney and Michael B. Jordan into Alpine\u2019s ownership structure, with the deal originally framed as a way to boost the team\u2019s media, marketing and commercial reach.<\/p>\n But speaking to The Race at the British Grand Prix, Provost said the arrangement had failed to deliver meaningful benefit to Alpine\u2019s day-to-day operation.<\/p>\n \u201cWe manage the team. Otro has no right, and no added value, to help us to operate. So we are fully responsible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are doing the job. The partnership with Otro was not successful. I think we are capable to assess together this. They want to sell, they will get the good benefits.<\/p>\n \u201cThey need our agreement to sell, and we\u2019ll do this maybe sooner or later, but from an operation standpoint [there is] no impact, and this is for me the most important.\u201d<\/p>\n Otro has been looking to sell its stake, with Mercedes<\/a> and former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner<\/a> among those linked to the shareholding.<\/p>\n Mercedes pulled out of talks in May after deciding the stake was overpriced, with Otro reportedly seeking $720 million USD ($1.03 billion AUD) for its 24 percent holding, valuing Alpine at around $3 billion USD ($4.3 billion AUD).<\/p>\n Renault has a veto over any sale until September and moved to halt discussions after Mercedes walked away, with Provost saying there is no pressure to rush into a new partnership.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, there is no urgency. There are two principles. The first one is Renault will keep the control. We do not intend to sell shares,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe second principle is, if ever Otro sells the shares, I want to be sure that with the new one [minority shareholder] we have some intimacy, common goal, and common interest.<\/p>\n \u201cSo it\u2019s why I\u2019m not in a hurry.\u201d<\/p>\n Provost\u2019s comments come during a period of major change for Alpine, which has switched to Mercedes customer power this season after Renault\u2019s decision to shut down its works F1 engine program.<\/p>\n The team has also secured a major commercial boost, with Gucci set to become its title sponsor from 2027 in a deal that will see the squad race as Gucci Racing Alpine Formula 1 Team.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/287093.gif\"\/)
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