Flavio Briatore breaks silence on Oliver Oakes’ resignation, rejecting rift rumors as Alpine F1 faces a pivotal restructure.
Flavio Briatore has stepped in to silence the growing speculation around the recent resignation of Oliver Oakes, the former team principal at Alpine F1. Now officially in charge, Briatore becomes the seventh team boss at Enstone in as many years, a revolving door that’s raised eyebrows across the paddock.
At the same time, Alpine announced that Franco Colapinto would drive in five races this season, temporarily replacing Jack Doohan. Reports quickly surfaced that Oakes was unhappy with that decision being made without his input. But Briatore is calling that narrative completely false.
“A lot’s been said over the last 24 hours, suggesting that Oli’s resignation was due to disagreements or a clash of visions. That’s completely false and far from the truth,” said Briatore.
“Oli and I have a strong relationship and a shared long-term vision for this team. His decision to step down is personal, it has nothing to do with internal conflicts or the team itself. We respect his choice and have accepted his resignation.”
Briatore also confirmed he’ll play a more active role moving forward: “I’ll be more and more involved with the team, working closely with the strong leadership already in place. We’re committed to improving this season and building toward 2026. Here’s a message from Oli to the team.”
“Flavio’s Been Like a Father to Me”
Oakes’ message was posted on Briatore’s Instagram, though in a curious move, while Briatore’s quote was paired with a personal photo, Oakes’ farewell appeared over a plain blue background. Symbolic? Maybe. Either way, the communication felt carefully choreographed, some might even say orchestrated.
“It’s been a privilege to lead the team at Enstone, an incredible group, an incredible place,” wrote Oakes. “This was a personal decision. Flavio has been like a father to me. He’s supported me from day one and gave me this opportunity.”
He closed with a note of optimism for the team’s future:
“Everything is in place for 2026, and for this dream to become what it truly deserves to be. I believe in Enstone.”
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