In a surprising turn of events, Alpine’s team boss Oli Oakes has stepped down, stirring a whirlwind of speculation and intrigue within the Formula 1 community.
Oakes’ sudden resignation came just as the team announced Franco Colapinto would take over a race seat from Jack Doohan for the next series of races. Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s executive advisor and a seasoned team leader at Enstone, has stepped in to assume Oakes’ responsibilities. While the move raised eyebrows, Briatore was quick to address the swirling rumors, firmly dismissing any allegations of discord between himself and Oakes. He took to social media, stating, “A lot has been said in the past 24 hours incorrectly associating the decision of Oli resigning to an alleged disagreement or that we shared different views. This is completely false and far from the truth. Me and Oli have a very good relationship and had long-term ambitions to drive this team forward together.”
Briatore emphasized the personal nature of Oakes’ departure, aiming to quash theories of professional rifts. “We respect Oli’s request to resign and have therefore accepted his resignation. The reasons are not related to the team and are of a personal nature,” he explained. He expressed continuing dedication to the team’s progress, stating his intent to be more involved alongside the existing management to bolster Alpine’s performance this season and in preparations for 2026.
Oakes himself echoed Briatore’s sentiments, expressing gratitude for his tenure at Enstone. In a message shared via Briatore’s post, Oakes remarked, “It’s been a privilege to lead everyone at Enstone, what a team, what a place. It is a personal decision for me to step down. Flavio has been like a father to me, nothing but supportive since I took the role, as well as giving me the opportunity.”
In the backdrop of these developments, speculation touched on the choice of drivers. Oakes’ historic connection to Hitech GP junior team and his ties with driver Doohan added layers to the discussion. The choice to favor Colapinto—a driver who had caught Briatore’s eye—over Doohan, stirred speculation about a possible misalignment in their vision. However, Briatore’s and Oakes’ statements jointly aimed to dispel such notions.
Beyond internal team dynamics, whispers of a potential sale of Alpine have added another dimension to the rumor mill. Dmitry Mazepin’s unexpected presence at the pre-season test in Bahrain fueled conjectures of a sale, although Alpine has consistently maintained that the team is not for sale. Despite these swirling narratives, Briatore and Oakes present a united front, standing by the decision as being purely personal for Oakes.
While Oli Oakes’ resignation as Alpine’s team boss has fueled a myriad of speculations, both he and Flavio Briatore stand firm in their assertion that the move is rooted in personal reasons, not team discord or looming sales. As Briatore takes the helm, the focus remains on steering Alpine towards greater heights in the upcoming seasons.
