Alpine is gearing up for a major shift in its Formula 1 team leadership, with Oliver Oakes expected to take over as the new team principal.
Big changes are coming for the French F1 team as insiders suggest that Oliver Oakes, known for leading Hitech’s F2 and F3 teams, is the front-runner to replace current team principal Bruno Famin.
Famin, who had taken over following the departure of Otmar Szafnauer at the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix, was only supposed to be an interim solution. However, due to a scarcity of alternatives, he stayed on longer than intended.
The team is in the midst of a major transformation, initiated by new advisor Flavio Briatore. They are leaving no stone unturned to return to the front of the pack. In fact, a deal to switch to Mercedes customer engines from 2026 appears to be almost finalized and might even begin as soon as 2025.
With the push for a long-term plan by Briatore, sources say the summer break might be the perfect window for this significant change. Staff at the Viry-Chatillon engine factory, where Famin used to work, have already been informed of an ongoing review concerning the facility’s future should the F1 project end.
Oakes, a former world karting champion, started his kart team in 2011 and expanded into single-seaters with Hitech in 2015. His work in F3, F2, GB3, British F4, and the Formula 4 UAE series has made him a significant figure in the racing world.
Although Alpine hasn’t commented publicly on the matter, Famin is expected to address the upcoming changes during an official FIA press conference at the Belgian Grand Prix on Friday. High-level sources indicate that Oakes is poised to step in, bringing his experience from Hitech to Alpine’s F1 team.
Stay tuned, as the summer break could bring one of the most substantial changes in recent Formula 1 history, with Oliver Oakes potentially taking the helm at Alpine.
