Oliver Oakes exits Alpine F1, Flavio Briatore steps in amid team turmoil, marking a major leadership shift at Enstone.
In a dramatic twist for Alpine F1, Oliver Oakes has stepped down from his role as team principal with immediate effect.
The announcement came just hours before the expected confirmation of Franco Colapinto replacing Jack Doohan in the team’s lineup. “Alpine F1 confirms that Oliver Oakes has resigned from his position as Team Principal,” read the brief statement released by the team this evening. “The team has accepted his resignation with immediate effect.”
Taking over the reins is none other than Flavio Briatore, the controversial figure who was banned from Formula 1 in 2009 over the infamous “Crashgate” scandal. Alpine confirmed that Briatore, already serving as executive advisor, will now also take on the responsibilities left vacant by Oakes.
“We thank Oliver for his efforts since joining last summer and for helping the team secure sixth place in the 2024 Constructors’ Championship,” the team added. “No further comment will be made.”
Briatore’s return to a leading role marks Alpine’s fifth team principal change in just four years, a clear sign of ongoing instability within the Enstone-based squad. Oakes, who appeared visibly uncomfortable over the weekend when asked about Doohan’s future, now becomes the latest casualty in what looks increasingly like a leadership crisis.
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