Alpine F1 has seen another shakeup at the top with the appointment of Oliver Oakes as its new team principal. This change comes after a series of managerial shifts, making Oakes the third person to assume the role since last season.
Oakes steps into the position previously held by Otmar Szafnauer and Bruno Famin. His arrival suggests a new era for Alpine, especially with Flavio Briatore now serving in an advisory role.
At just 12 years old, Oakes was already a two-time British Open karting champion. By 17, he had clinched the karting world championship, racing against notable names like Valtteri Bottas and Jules Bianchi. His talent caught the eye of the Red Bull Junior Team, where he joined the ranks of Sebastian Vettel and Brendon Hartley.
Oakes’ racing career extended to Formula BMW, where he impressively took pole position and won in his first race. However, despite his early success, his racing journey didn’t quite hit the heights many expected, leading him to switch gears and focus on management.
In 2011, Oakes founded Team Oakes Racing, nurturing young talents like Callum Ilott and Marcus Armstrong. By 2015, he was leading Hitech Grand Prix, a team that quickly became a powerhouse in junior formula racing. Under his leadership, drivers like George Russell and Nikita Mazepin thrived.
However, Oakes’ time at Hitech wasn’t without controversy. The team faced scrutiny due to its financial backing from Dmitry Mazepin, linked to sanctions during the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Despite this, Hitech continued to achieve significant success, highlighted by Paul Aron’s current third place in the F2 standings.
Oakes’ transition to F1 isn’t entirely new. Hitech once attempted to join the F1 grid but didn’t make the cut. Now, as the principal of Alpine, Oakes faces the challenge of steering the team back on track amidst driver frustrations and technical issues. Pierre Gasly has voiced his concerns about the team’s recent mistakes, and Esteban Ocon hasn’t been shy about his dissatisfaction with the season’s performance.
Oakes’ journey parallels that of Red Bull’s Christian Horner, both having fathers who owned racing teams and both transitioning from drivers to successful managers. With Briatore’s support, Oakes has a real chance to turn things around for Alpine.
Whether Oakes can bring the same level of success as Horner remains to be seen. However, with his rich background in motorsport and management, Alpine fans have reasons to be optimistic.
Oliver Oakes’ appointment as Alpine’s team principal marks an exciting new chapter. With his extensive experience and the backing of influential figures like Briatore, the future looks promising. All eyes will be on Oakes to see how he steers the team forward.
