Rossi sees Reynolds' winning touch boosting Alpine

ENSTONE, England : Renault-owned Alpine believe Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds has the Midas Touch to help get the team back to the top in Formula One.

"Deadpool" star Reynolds was announced on Monday, along with Wrexham soccer club co-owner Rob McElhenney, in a group of investors taking a 24 per cent equity stake in the former world champions.

Even if the investment is led by Otro Capital and RedBird Capital Partners, Reynolds' involvement through his Maximum Effort Investments created an immediate buzz.

"Most of you were probably expecting Ryan Reynolds," Otro Capital founder and partner Alec Scheiner jokingly told analysts at Alpine's Enstone factory for a strategy presentation.

Alpine chief executive Laurent Rossi pointed to Reynolds' track record in business.

"He did Mint, Aviation Gin, Wrexham. Bringing sponsors, visibility and success. Everything he touches turns into some sort of success," he told reporters later.

T-Mobile US announced in March it would buy Ka'ena Corp, owners of Reynolds-backed budget service provider Mint Mobile, for up to $1.35 billion.

Diageo paid up to $610 million in 2020 for Aviation American Gin, co-owned by Reynolds, and other spirits brands.

Wrexham last April secured a fairytale return to the English Football League after a 15-year absence, with the club gaining a multitude of long-distance fans through a docu-series "Welcome to Wrexham".

Asked how involved Reynolds had been in the negotiations, Rossi replied: "Almost never. The deal was led by RedBird/Otro, Otro being a couple of people from RedBird starting their own fund so it’s more or less one group of people talking to us."

Rossi said the investors, who have paid 200 million euros ($218.88 million), would develop revenues through