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Renault Slams Alpine Investors: 'No Added Value' and 'No Rush'
The soap opera surrounding the Alpine F1 team's minority stake takes a new turn as Renault boss François Provost bluntly and candidly brands the Otro Capital deal a 'failure'.
By Kritische Hans van den Broekma - 2026-07-07T10:44:12.000Z - 2 min read
Ah, Formula 1. A sport of speed, technology, and... apparently, publicly roasting your business partners. While engines rev and fans crave real racing action, Renault chief François Provost has delightfully shaken things up around the Alpine F1 team. The partnership with minority shareholder Otro Capital? Well, that was 'unsuccessful,' it seems. As if someone had just spilled a cup of coffee over a major contract.
Let's be honest: if you own a quarter of a Formula 1 team, you might at least expect to deliver some 'added value.' But no, according to Provost, the celebrity investors at Otro Capital—yes, the ones with their flashy names and deep pockets—do not involve themselves in daily operations. And worse yet, they reportedly bring zero 'added value.' I wonder what they actually do, besides perhaps hosting a few exclusive parties and adding a touch of glamour to the paddock. Unfortunately, glamour doesn't set lap times.
It gets even better. Otro apparently wanted to part ways with that 24% stake, attracting interest from big names like Mercedes and even former Red Bull boss Christian Horner. But what does Renault do? Naturally, they pull the plug. Armed with a veto right valid until September, the French giant has put all discussions on ice for now. Provost is in 'no rush' and wants a new partner who shares proper 'intimacy' and 'common goals.' Because yes, a little corporate romance is apparently essential, even in the ruthless world of Formula 1.
While the Alpine machines spent last year languishing at the bottom—a staggering achievement in its own right—and have made a 'better' start this year in fifth place (just one point ahead of Racing Bulls, so let's not get carried away), Provost stresses that stability is the top priority. Performance and a 'robust' recovery matter more than reaching the top in a hurry. A noble goal, but one wonders whether internal relationship therapy with shareholders truly contributes to it, or merely distracts from the real task: driving faster.
Speaking of driving faster, Renault's long-term strategy remains crystal clear: they are staying loyal to F1, even amidst internal grumbling. They will not relinquish control and have no intention of restarting a bespoke engine program, despite chatter about future V8 engines. No, they prefer a 'slice of electrification' and, above all, continued growth leveraging those '800 million followers.' Proof that the focus is on the big picture, while the minority shareholder apparently sits on the wrong side of the table.