Alpine F1 team boss says Mercedes is interested in buying a stake in his team

Mercedes is among “three or four potential buyers” for a 24% stake in rival Formula 1 team Alpine, the French team's executive adviser Flavio Briatore said Friday.

Ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, Briatore said Mercedes was keen on the minority share — held by a private equity firm which has worked with sports stars like Patrick Mahomes — but suggested it wouldn't come with influence over how Alpine is run. He also dismissed reports Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was in talks to buy the stake on his own behalf.

“Every day is a new situation. I don’t know what is the latest one, but what I say is that I know it’s a negotiation with Mercedes, not with Toto, with Mercedes, and we see. In this moment we have three or four potential buyers,” said Briatore, who has been Alpine's de-facto team boss since last year.

Asked if that could lead to conflict-of-interest concerns about Mercedes — which already supplies Alpine's engines — gaining influence over how it's run or how it votes on future rule changes, Briatore suggested any minority shareholder would be a “passenger” in those talks.

“Normally one company, 75% decide and the 25% is a passenger, and this is the reality,” Briatore said.

Mercedes did not confirm details of any involvement.

“Mercedes is a key strategic partner of Alpine and we are being kept apprised of the latest developments,” the team said in a statement.

Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is also among the interested parties, Alpine said last month.

Alpine is majority-owned by French automaker Renault, which sold the 24% stake to a group led by private equity firm Otro Capital, which attracted attention by including sports stars like Mahomes and Travis Kelce and the actor Ryan Reynolds in its investment group.

Alpine is coming off a tough year as it placed last in the constructors' standings in 2025. Pierre Gasly earned the team's first point with 10th in Australia last week but Briatore said he wasn't pleased with the team's progress as F1 begins a new era of regulations.

“We are not happy at all. Our performance was very weak and was a combination of different factors, and we know what is the major problem we have in the car,” he said.

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Alpine team principal Flavio Briatore arrives at the track ahead of the first practice session for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Scott Barbour)

Alpine driver Pierre Gasly of France steers his car during the sprint qualifying ahead of the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix, in Shanghai, China, Friday, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

NEW YORK (AP) — The Orioles put Ryan Helsley on the 15-day injured list Friday because of right elbow inflammation and are optimistic their closer will not miss significant time.

“I think he said he felt something maybe like a week ago, but it wasn’t anything concerning,” Baltimore manager Craig Albernaz said after a 7-2 loss to the Yankees. “I think ultimately he kind of thought it would just go away and discomfort was still there and level of concern is not high at all.

Albernaz said testing came back clean and Helsley is taking anti-inflammatory medication. Helsley is the 12th player to go on the injured list for the Orioles, who also lost starting pitcher Zach Eflin to Tommy John surgery on his left elbow.

A 31-year-old right-hander signed to a $28 million, two-year contract in December after struggling in the final two months of last season for the Mets, Helsley is perfect in seven saves chances. He is 0-2 with a 2.53 ERA in 12 appearances, striking out 15 and walking seven in 10 2/3 innings.

Helsley last pitched Tuesday when he threw 12 pitches and earned the save in Baltimore’s 5-3 win over Houston.

While with St. Louis, Helsley was sidelined between June 7 and Sept. 1 in 2023 because of a strained right forearm. He also missed the final six weeks of the pandemic shortened 2020 season with knee and elbow injuries and missed time as a rookie in 2019 with right shoulder impingement.

In other moves, the Orioles recalled left-hander Cade Povich from Triple-A Norfolk to start against the Yankees, selected the contract of right-hander Albert Suárez from the Tides and optioned right-hander Cameron Foster to A Norfolk.

Povich allowed home runs to José Caballero and Ben Rice in the second inning and pitched four innings. Suárez followed Povich with 2 2/3 innings in his sixth appearance this year.

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Baltimore Orioles pitcher Ryan Helsley (21) delivers during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)