Oliver Oakes resigns as Alpine F1 team boss, Flavio Briatore to take charge

In a dramatic turn of events that signals another leadership shakeup at Alpine, the team announced the immediate resignation of Oliver Oakes as team principal. While the statement was brief and to the point, thanking Oakes for his efforts since his appointment last July and crediting him for helping secure sixth place in the 2024 constructors’ championship, the timing and silence from both parties hint at deeper turmoil within the team.“The team would like to thank Oliver for his efforts since he joined last summer and for his contribution in helping the team secure sixth place in the 2024 constructors’ championship,” read the official statement. “The team will not be making any further comment.”Oakes, only 37, had been the fourth team principal in as many years at Alpine, taking over from Bruno Famin, who stepped aside to concentrate on his broader motorsport responsibilities. Before Famin, Otmar Szafnauer and Cyril Abiteboul each tried to steady the ship but struggled against a backdrop of instability and shifting priorities. Despite his young age and a strong racing pedigree—having founded the highly regarded Hitech Grand Prix in 2015—Oakes now exits amid rumors of deeper fissures within Alpine’s structure and direction.Tensions appeared to build during the Miami Grand Prix, where Oakes was conspicuously absent from post-race media obligations, officially citing “a change in travel plans.” However, the situation now seems to reflect larger issues behind the scenes, including uncertainty over the future of Jack Doohan’s seat, which might soon be handed to Franco Colapinto at Imola.Into this vacuum steps Flavio Briatore, a man synonymous with both glory and controversy in Formula One. Once given a lifetime ban from the sport due to his involvement in the infamous 2008 “Crashgate” scandal, Briatore now reclaims an influential role at Alpine, assuming Oakes’s responsibilities while continuing as executive advisor. The mere prospect of his return would’ve seemed improbable a decade ago.Briatore’s fall from grace was swift and public. Though both he and engineer Pat Symonds denied allegations that they orchestrated Nelson Piquet Jr.’s deliberate crash in Singapore to benefit Fernando Alonso, Renault did not challenge the accusations at an FIA hearing. Briatore’s lifetime ban was later overturned in court, but his reputation remained tainted. Despite this, Renault CEO Luca de Meo convinced him to rejoin Alpine in 2024.While Alpine’s storied past under Briatore includes multiple world titles as Benetton and Renault, the present looks far bleaker. The team sits ninth in the constructors' standings with just seven points. Pierre Gasly, voicing post-Miami frustrations, stated, “We were on the back foot throughout the whole weekend… we just need more time to get some answers.”With Briatore back and sweeping changes underway, Alpine appears to be banking on bold decisions to revive a legacy that’s long been mired in mediocrity. Whether this gamble pays off—or reignites past controversies—remains to be seen.Also Read: Is F1 the endgame for Lando Norris? McLaren driver shares thoughts on what's next