F1 goes Hollywood: Ryan Reynolds buys into Alpine

Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi announced on Monday 26 June that Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have joined an investor group – Otro Capital and RedBird Capital Partners – in acquiring a 24% equity stake in Alpine Racing.

RYAN REYNOLDS IN F1

The Hollywood actor heads a sports marketing company called Maximum Effort Investments with several partners. He and Rob McElhenney took over Wrexham AFC in November 2020. A popular documentary-series ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ has proved a big hit in North America, propelling the little-known club into the global spotlight.

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Now Reuters reports that a $218-million deal values French-named, British-based Formula 1 racing outfit at $900 million. As part of the deal, Otro Capital co-founder, Alec Scheiner, will join Alpine Racing’s board of directors.

The Alpine F1 racing team – formerly Renault and Benetton F1 – is controlled by Renault but based at Enstone in England and won the Formula One constructors’ world championships in 2005 and 2006, as well as the drivers’ championship with Fernando Alonso at the wheel.

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Alpine F1 placed fourth in the 2022 championship and is currently fifth after eight races in the 2023 season.

OFFICIAL COMMENT FROM ALPINE

“This association is an important step to enhance our performance at all levels. Otro Capital, RedBird Capital Partners and Maximum Effort Investments, as international players with strong track record in the sports industry, will bring their recognised expertise to boost our media and marketing strategy, essential to support our sporting performance over the long term. The incremental revenue generated will in turn be reinvested in the team, in order to further accelerate our plans to catch up with top teams in terms of state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.”

Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi

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