Oliver Oakes Resigns from Alpine
On Tuesday, Alpine announced that Oliver Oakes has resigned as team principal, effective immediately. Flavio Briatore, the team’s executive advisor, will take over Oakes’ responsibilities while maintaining his advisory role.
In part of its statement, Alpine expressed gratitude to Oakes for his contributions since he joined in the summer, which helped the team secure sixth place in the 2024 constructors’ championship. The team added that it would provide no further comments on the matter.
After the Miami Grand Prix last weekend, Oakes did not fulfill his post-race media obligations, with the official explanation being “a change in travel plans.” Oakes was appointed team principal last July after Bruno Famin stepped down to focus on his duties as VP of motorsports. At 37, Oakes is a former racing driver and founded Hitech Grand Prix in 2015, which has teams in various junior categories, including the F1 Academy, Formula Three, and Formula Two.
Oakes is the fourth team principal for Alpine in less than four years, following Famin, Otmar Szafnauer, and Cyril Abiteboul. His appointment made him the youngest team principal in Formula 1. His resignation comes amid speculation regarding Jack Doohan’s future with the team and the potential replacement of the Australian driver by Franco Colapinto at Imola, marking the beginning of a European tripleheader.
After six races, Alpine currently sits ninth in the constructors’ standings with seven points, just one point ahead of 10th place Sauber. The team has struggled with speed, particularly at Miami, where Pierre Gasly remarked that they were “on the back foot throughout the whole weekend.”
Reassessing Alpine’s Leadership
At the Miami GP media area, it was unusual to see Oakes leave the paddock shortly after the race, especially since the official reason for his absence from the media was about travel plans. Previously, Oakes stated that when he took over, the team felt “a little bit unloved” and lacked strong leadership, a void he aimed to fill.
The recent leadership changes could influence Alpine’s direction as Briatore, known for his successful but controversial past, steps back into a prominent role. Despite previous scandals, including the infamous Crashgate, Briatore’s return has been viewed positively by some, with statements noting his wealth of knowledge and successful track record. His reappointment has sparked interest in how he will manage the team moving forward.
