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Oliver Oakes Steps Down as Alpine F1 Team Principal After 10 Months, Briatore Takes Over Duties

In a major development within the world of Formula 1, the Alpine F1 Team has announced the immediate resignation of team principal Oliver Oakes. The news, which broke shortly after the Miami Grand Prix, marks the end of Oakes’ tenure just 10 months after he took charge of the Enstone-based team.

Oakes, 37, assumed the role of team principal midway through the 2024 season, stepping in to replace Bruno Famin. His appointment made him the second youngest team principal in the sport’s history, only behind Christian Horner, who joined Red Bull Racing as team boss in 2005. Despite high hopes surrounding his leadership, Oakes’ time at Alpine has been unexpectedly cut short, leaving questions about what prompted his swift departure.

In an official statement, Alpine confirmed the resignation and thanked Oakes for his efforts since joining the team last summer. “BWT Alpine Formula One Team announces that Oliver Oakes has resigned from his role as Team Principal,” the team said. “The team has accepted his resignation with immediate effect. As of today, Flavio Briatore will continue as Executive Advisor and will also be covering the duties previously performed by Oliver Oakes. The team would like to thank Oliver for his efforts and his contribution in helping the team secure sixth place in the 2024 Constructors’ Championship.”

Alpine’s announcement comes amid increasing speculation about ongoing internal changes at the team. Rumors have emerged suggesting that Alpine is considering a driver shake-up, possibly replacing current driver Jack Doohan with reserve driver Franco Colapinto. While nothing has been confirmed, such speculation indicates that larger restructuring may be underway behind the scenes.

Flavio Briatore, who has a long and controversial history in Formula 1, will now take on additional responsibilities. Briatore has been serving as an executive advisor for Alpine, but with Oakes stepping down, he will also oversee the team principal duties—at least temporarily. His increased role raises questions about how much influence he will now exert over both the team’s sporting and strategic decisions moving forward.

Alpine’s 2024 season ended with a sixth-place finish in the Constructors’ Championship—a modest result given the team’s aspirations to challenge the top-tier outfits. The resignation of Oakes and possible changes to the driver lineup suggest that Alpine is reassessing its leadership and long-term goals as it tries to move up the grid.

The sudden departure of a team principal just months into a campaign is rare and often signals deeper issues within a team. Although Alpine has not revealed specific reasons for Oakes’ resignation, the timing points to potential disagreements or shifts in vision for the future.

As the F1 season progresses, Alpine’s next moves—both on the pit wall and on the track—will be closely watched. The team will be hoping that the leadership transition and possible driver decisions will bring the clarity and performance boost needed to push closer to the front of the field.