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AutoNation denies Alpine takeover: 'We will not be buying the team'
- GPblog.com
During the Miami Grand Prix, there were speculations - not for the first time - about a possible takeover of Alpine. According to German media, US car company AutoNation would like to take over (part of the shares) of Alpine's Formula 1 team. When asked, AutoNation responded to GPblog about the rumours.
Marc Cannon, Executive Vice President of AutoNation, tells this site: "We will not be buying the team and at this time it is a partnership with some of the America F1 races including providing unique customer experience opportunities."
Szafnauer discusses interest
Cannon does not deny that a more extensive collaboration - in whatever capacity - between Alpine and AutoNation could become a possibility at some point in the future. The current partnership was only announced by both parties last week. In Miami, Laurent Rossi, CEO of Alpine F1, attended a sponsorship meeting of the car company
Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer hinted in Miami that there are one or more parties his team is in talks with. In doing so, he did not mention AutoNation's name, by the way: "I am not directly involved in the share purchase, but if that happens, it will be announced," he said. He adds that he is happy that there are apparently parties interested in the team, as this could create an additional revenue stream.