In November 2020, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney announced their intention to invest in Wrexham AFC, a football team in the lower tiers of the English football league.
The move certainly surprised many in the sports world. Then, over a year later, the two made another announcement that raised eyebrows even higher. They were now investing in the Alpine Formula One team, owned by the French car manufacturer Renault.
The move is an interesting one, to say the least. Fairly so! It has many F1 fans (and even Hollywood fans) excited. But what will the impact be on the world of F1? This article will dive into the details and outline everything you need to know about this monumental announcement.
F1 Sports / In yet another unexpected move, Hollywood icons Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have decided to invest in Alpine.
What You Need to Know About Alpine?
Before we dive into what the investment means for F1, we should probably go over who exactly Alpine is. Alpine is a French manufacturer of sports and racing cars that was founded in 1955. In the world of F1, they are known for their Renault engines that power the McLaren and Alpine teams.
While the company might not be a household name, they have been a consistent force in motorsports circles over the years. And Reynolds and McElhenney seem to have taken notice.
What Does the Investment Mean?
Reynolds and McElhenney are investing a whopping $218 million for a 24% share of the Alpine racing team.
Auto Sports / Competing since the 90s, Alpine is one of the unbeatable car racing teams in the U.S.
So, what does that actually mean, you ask? Well, to start, it means that we are likely going to see a lot more of Reynolds and McElhenney around the F1 paddock. And while their investment will not necessarily give them decision-making power over the team, it does show that they have a vested interest in what happens on the track.
Some speculate that the investment could result in more advertising and sponsorship opportunities for the Alpine team, as Reynolds’ and McElhenney’s involvement could give the team some Hollywood-level exposure they might not have had otherwise.
What Will be the Impact on F1?
It is safe to say that as more details emerge, there will likely be a lot of scrutiny on the team. After all, F1 is already a high-stakes game, and any change – even a celebrity-backed investment – could have ripple effects throughout the sport.
US Weekly / Apart from the positive impacts, the team will also be subject to scrutiny after the duo’s whopping investment!
Likewise, it is also worth noting that while this might be one of the most high-profile celebrity investments in F1, it is not the first. In 2015, musician Toto Wolff joined the Mercedes F1 team as its executive director, helping to lead the team to dominant success over the last few years. So, Reynolds and McElhenney might not be trailblazers in this sense. But they are certainly making a splash – even beyond F1 as a sport.
What Are People Saying?
As with any big news story, there are plenty of opinions floating around online about Reynolds and McElhenney’s investment.
One thing is for sure: Reynolds and McElhenney have a lot of successful projects under their belts, and they likely would not have invested in Alpine if they did not think there was potential for success.
