How Alpine’s Power Trio Aligns to Steer the Team’s 2024 Vision

Flavio Briatore’s return reshaped Alpine F1’s leadership, with Oakes revealing how the team thrives under a unified, transparent hierarchy.

Oliver Oakes has outlined how the hierarchy operates at Alpine F1 following Flavio Briatore’s return and his own arrival. The team principal confirms that Briatore holds ultimate authority and reports directly to Luca de Meo.

“Yes, Flavio is above everyone else,” Oakes told Planet F1. “He knows the business, he’s been there, done that, and I think it’s very clear that there’s alignment between me, Flavio, and Luca. We’re all on the same page. Our structure isn’t very different from a few other teams on the grid.”

“The three of us are here: Luca [de Meo] as the group CEO, Flavio [Briatore] as executive advisor, and me as team principal. I think titles don’t mean much. What matters is whether the three of you are aligned in the direction you’re taking.”

“There’s no hierarchy chart, no power games—it’s very transparent, and I think that’s probably something that was missing before. From my side, I’m the guy on the ground, whether it’s at the factory or at the track.”

“But I think you can see that Flavio attends most races. He’s also at Enstone a few days a week. If you look at F1 teams that have succeeded over the years, you’ll see they had very strong leadership and were really aligned.”

When asked about the mentorship role Briatore might play, Oakes admits it’s somewhat the case: “Yes, you could say that! Sometimes he gives me a hard time! No, I’m joking. This is his second time with this team, and he’s turned it around twice. I think that experience, that passion he has, is something contagious.”

“I think F1 has changed a lot over the years, but the basic principles remain the same. You need great people, you need to build a good car, and you need to ensure that racing is the priority—everything else comes second.”

“I think having him by my side helps reinforce that, because it’s a big job—there are about 900 people and 24 races. It’s not a one-man operation. We also have David [Sanchez] as technical director, who joined just before me, and we’ve announced Dave Greenwood as race director.”

“I don’t think it’s just me, Flavio, and Luca at the top. There are two or three people below me who are also part of this leadership group. That’s exactly what’s needed to build a strong team and ensure everyone works together.”

Asked about similarities between Alpine’s management and Red Bull’s, where Helmut Marko and Christian Horner share leadership, Oakes acknowledged some parallels but emphasized that the two teams operate differently.

“I think many people like to draw comparisons between me and Christian, Helmut, and Flavio. Their setup has been very successful at Red Bull. There are probably similarities, but we are also different—what works in one place doesn’t always work elsewhere.”

“For me, it’s very simple: the three of us work together, and the most important thing is whether the chemistry works between us. Do we get along? And we do. I feel really fortunate because, in the end, I’m not alone, and I think that’s how F1 is today.”

“It’s complex—there’s politics, people to manage, a car to develop—and I truly believe that this has become one of the team’s real strengths since mid-season. People draw energy from that.”