Christian Horner has been given a figure for what it would cost him to return to Formula 1 through a potential Alpine deal, according to reports.
Horner has been searching for a route back into the sport since being axed by Red Bull in July 2025, with the Brit expressing a desire to take on a team ownership role in his next venture.
He has repeatedly been linked with Alpine, with Otro Capital understood to be looking to sell their 24 per cent stake in the French outfit.
Mercedes had been considered the frontrunners to acquire that minority shareholding, with Flavio Briatore confirming that talks had begun between the two parties.
However, BBC Sport are now reporting that those negotiations have broken down, potentially opening the door for Horner to make his move.
The breakdown is said to have been driven in part by Mercedes viewing Otro’s valuation as too high, with the asking price implying Alpine as a whole is worth $3 billion.
Otro are reportedly seeking $720 million for their shareholding, giving Horner and his investment partners a clear figure to work with if they wish to pursue a deal.
There is currently no official confirmation that Horner is actively interested in purchasing the stake, with Briatore having only publicly referenced Mercedes and Toto Wolff in connection with the sale.
Should a Horner-Alpine arrangement come to fruition, it is expected the former Red Bull boss would also take on a hands-on role in the day-to-day running of the team.
Horner brings considerable experience to the table, having claimed 14 championships with Red Bull across a two-decade spell with the organisation, while Alpine currently remain without a full-time team principal.
Any potential deal faces an additional hurdle, with Renault holding a power of veto over any sale of the Otro shares until September.
Renault are also believed to have blocked Horner’s initial proposal earlier in 2026, suggesting the path to a completed deal remains far from straightforward.