Damon Hill Reacts to Alpine Shake-Up as Flavio Briatore...

Damon Hill Reacts to Alpine Shake-Up as Flavio Briatore…read

Former Formula 1 World Champion Damon Hill has voiced his astonishment at the recent upheaval within the Alpine F1 team, following the sudden exits of key personnel and the controversial return of Flavio Briatore to the role of team principal. Hill, who rarely holds back on his opinions, expressed disbelief on social media as the restructuring within Alpine unfolded at a rapid pace.

The week began with the unexpected departure of team boss Oliver Oakes, a move that caught many in the paddock off guard. Shortly thereafter, Jack Doohan, one of the team’s development drivers and considered a promising talent for the future, was demoted in favor of rising Argentine star Franco Colapinto. The decision sparked speculation about the strategic direction of the team, which has struggled to find consistent form in recent seasons.

What truly turned heads, however, was the news that Flavio Briatore, a figure synonymous with both success and scandal in Formula 1, would be stepping back into the team principal role. Briatore last held the position 17 years ago and was at the center of the infamous “Crashgate” controversy during his time at Renault. That scandal, which involved Nelson Piquet Jr. deliberately crashing during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to benefit teammate Fernando Alonso, led to Briatore receiving a lifetime ban from the sport—though it was later overturned by a French court.

Despite his tarnished legacy, Briatore has steadily reinserted himself into the F1 sphere in recent years, with Alpine bringing him back in an advisory capacity in 2023. His latest promotion marks a significant escalation of influence within the team and signals a bold, perhaps risky, direction for Alpine’s leadership.

Reacting to the developments, Damon Hill took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his thoughts. “This is a joke, right?” he wrote after the announcement of Oakes’ exit. When the team later confirmed the news officially, Hill followed up with a simple yet telling message: “Apparently not!”

Hill, who won the World Championship in 1996, is known for his candid assessments of the sport and has previously criticized decision-making processes within F1 teams. In this case, his incredulous reaction appears to reflect the sentiment of many within the motorsport community, who see Briatore’s return as both surprising and controversial.

Briatore’s legacy in Formula 1 is complex. On one hand, he was instrumental in leading Benetton and Renault to world championship success, working with iconic drivers like Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso. On the other, the Crashgate saga has left an indelible mark on his reputation. Although he has remained active in the business and entertainment sectors, his formal return to a leadership role in F1 will likely reignite debates over ethics and redemption in professional sport.

Alpine’s current situation is precarious. After several seasons of inconsistent performance and management turnover, the team now finds itself at a crossroads. The recent shake-up suggests an urgent desire for transformation, but it also raises concerns about stability and long-term planning.

Hill, with his decades of experience in and around Formula 1, concluded his remarks with a pointed prediction. Referencing the rapid changes and Briatore’s reappointment, he suggested that in the ongoing game of musical chairs at Alpine, Briatore might ultimately be “the last man standing.”

With the 2025 season drawing nearer and pressure mounting on Alpine to deliver results, all eyes will be on Briatore and whether his return marks a renaissance—or a repeat of past controversies. Either way, the spotlight on Alpine has never been brighter, and the path ahead looks anything but smooth.