Hollywood actor and Wrexham AFC owner, Ryan Reynolds, has just added a Formula 1 team to his portfolio of investments. The actor best known
for playing Deadpool has acquired a stake in Alpine Racing Limited, the parent company of the Alpine Formula 1 team.
Reynolds, along with Wrexham AFC Co-Chairman Rob McElhenney, head Maximum Effort Investments (MEI), one of the newest investors in Alpine Racing Ltd. Together with Otro Capital and RedBird Capital Partners, the three investment firms have acquired a 24% equity stake in the racing team. Another notable co-investor includes actor Michael B. Jordan, who starred in the Marvel Black Panther movie.
This investor group is bringing in €200 million to support Alpine’s growth strategy and sporting ambitions in Formula 1. Maximum Effort Investments, specifically, will bring its “successful sports & media experience and operational expertise in building high-growth companies.”
It is hoped that Maximum Effort can help Alpine F1 in the same way it has helped Wrexham, the north Wales club reach the European Football League, becoming a commercial success off the pitch and gaining new global fans in the process.
The Alpine F1 team is looking forward to benefit from the group’s collective expertise and track record in the sports industry including media, sponsorship, ticketing, hospitality, commercial rights management, licensing, and merchandising strategies to unlock incremental value creation and new growth levers. The Investor Group has a strong track record of company-building with recognized partners such as the Dallas Cowboys, Fenway Sports Group, the NFL, Toulouse FC and Wrexham AFC. Alpine F1 team will also benefit from the Investor Group's expertise in data and technology, key enablers of marketing and commercial performance.
“Formula 1 and Alpine are strategic assets for Renault Group,” said Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault Group. “Over the past two years, we have re-ignited Alpine, capitalizing on its iconic A110 sports coupé, boosting it by entering Formula 1, where it aims to become a championship contender. This partnership will accelerate Alpine F1 development by diversifying revenue drivers and increasing brand value.”
“Maximum Effort Investments focuses on unlocking value through the power of storytelling, and we believe there is tremendous untapped
potential in Alpine Racing,” said James Toney, Co-Founder of Maximum Effort Investments. “We are eager to help shine a light on this incredible team. We’re thankful to our partners at Otro Capital and RedBird Capital Partners and look forward to diving in with them, as well as our co-investors Michael B. Jordan and Rob McElhenney."
It's certainly an interesting time to tune into Formula 1. This year will see Formula 1 return to Las Vegas Nevada to race on a street circuit for the first time in decades. This season also sees Hollywood actor, Brad Pitt, shooting his upcoming Formula 1-based movie during some of the races for added authenticity.