Christian Horner has voiced serious concerns over Mercedes' rumored bid to acquire a stake in Alpine, a move that could shake up the Formula 1 landscape. The Red Bull team principal is reportedly uneasy about Toto Wolff's potential entry into the Alpine ownership mix, as speculation swirls around Otro Capital's plan to sell their 24% shareholding.

Otro Capital's stake has already attracted high-profile investors like Ryan Reynolds, Michael B. Jordan, and Patrick Mahomes. Back in January, Flavio Briatore revealed that Horner had held talks with Otro Capital about a possible deal, but no agreement was reached. Now, Mercedes has emerged as a contender, with Wolff leading the charge.

According to RacingNews365, Horner has raised red flags about Mercedes' approach, describing the offer as "low" with little sign of improvement. The report also notes that Renault, which owns the remaining 76% of Alpine, may be eyeing synergies with Mercedes—a development that Horner reportedly finds troubling.

If the deal goes through, Mercedes could gain influence over a second team on the grid, though Wolff has dismissed suggestions that Alpine would become a junior squad. Meanwhile, Horner's own offer is said to better reflect the true value of the shares, with the Red Bull boss reportedly seeking a role that includes input into key decisions like driver choices and management appointments within Alpine.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has also weighed in, publicly questioning the integrity of such a move. "It runs a real high risk of compromising the integrity of sporting fairness," Brown told the press. "All 11 teams should be as independent as possible. We've seen this compromise the sport before, and that will turn fans off quicker than anything else. It applies to anybody and everybody—A/B teams, co-ownership. Regardless of who it is, I frown upon it."

As the F1 community watches closely, the battle for Alpine's shares could redefine team dynamics on the grid—and Horner isn't backing down without a fight.