Oliver Oakes exits Alpine F1 amid rising rumours of Christian Horner being replaced by Red Bull’s powerful Thai faction.
The F1 paddock is buzzing after Oliver Oakes stepped down from his role as Team Principal at Alpine F1, sparking fresh rumors of shifting power dynamics, not just at Alpine, but possibly at Red Bull as well.
Oakes’ resignation came just ahead of Alpine’s announcement that Jack Doohan would be replaced by Franco Colapinto. According to insiders, the decision was met with internal conflict. Oakes reportedly clashed with Alpine advisor Flavio Briatore over the move and ultimately walked away on Tuesday.
“From today, Flavio Briatore will continue as Executive Advisor and also assume Oliver Oakes’ former responsibilities,” Alpine stated in a brief press release. The team declined to provide further comment.
Meanwhile, Colapinto, an Argentine rookie with major backing, will drive a two-year-old Alpine F1 car at Zandvoort on Thursday as part of his five-race deal.
But the biggest shockwave may be yet to come.
Sources suggest that Oakes has caught the attention of Red Bull’s Thai ownership, who are reportedly considering him as a possible successor to Christian Horner. Horner, whose leadership was reaffirmed earlier this year, could now be on thin ice again.
“The Thai group saved Horner in early 2024, but that support seems to be fading,” said a Red Bull insider in Austria, likely tipped off by none other than Dr. Helmut Marko.
Is the Red Bull power struggle heating up again?
Marko has described the upcoming Imola upgrade as a crucial turning point for the RB21, while Horner downplayed expectations.
“There’s no major upgrade coming to Imola,” Horner said. “We’re at a stage in the regulations where development is incremental.”
One thing’s certain: the political drama in F1 is far from over.
- Discover More>F1 2025 Miami Grand Prix : Key Stats and Record-Breaking Moments
- Follow us on >FACEBOOK and >TWITTERfor F1 update