Alpine boss Oakes quits team with immediate effect

Alpine has announced that Oliver Oakes has resigned from his role as team principal with immediate effect.

As of today, Flavio Briatore will continue as Executive Advisor and will also be covering the duties previously performed by Oakes.

“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 brief statement.

“The team will not be making any further comment.”

Oakes shock departure is the latest in a series of equally surprise moves at the Enstone-based outfit which has seen it haemorrhage senior management as well as engineers and even drivers, such as Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri.

One has to wonder if Oakes resignation is linked to increasing speculation that Franco Colapinto will replace Jack Doohan from next weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Oakes was recruited to Alpine in July 2024 reporting directly to Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo. His appointment saw him become the second youngest team principal in Formula 1 history.

Founder of Hitech Grand Prix in 2015, which for almost a decade, has been at the forefront of single-seater competition on the world and national stage, Oakes, a former racing driver, and 2005 world karting champion, created a winning culture at Hitech, achieving race victories in every championship it competes in, as well as helping to progress the careers of some of today’s most prominent drivers.

In 2023, having sold a 25% stake to Kazakh businessman, Vladimir Kim, the Silverstone-based outfit confirmed its application for entry into the 2026 F1 world championship.