Oliver Oakes: “I Get Grumpy When Results Fall Short”

Oliver Oakes opens up about the emotional toll of racing, saying bad results leave him frustrated and more determined to succeed.

The Alpine F1 boss opens up about the pressure he puts on himself.

Since stepping into his leadership role at Alpine F1, Oliver Oakes admits the real pressure he feels comes from within, not from the outside. The British team principal is the first to admit that bad weekends and tough races hit him hard.

“I don’t really see it as outside pressure,” Oakes said during an appearance on the F1 Explains podcast. “Of course, there’s a huge responsibility. You’re representing a lot of people, a brand, and an entire team.”

“But honestly, I think I’m harder on myself than anyone else could be. I get pretty grumpy when I have a bad day or a disappointing result. I just want to do a good job, because that’s who I am.”

When asked about the differences in feedback between drivers Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan, Oakes highlighted how two drivers can experience similar issues but describe them differently.

“You never get the exact same feedback from two drivers. You always have to think about where each of them is coming from. Sometimes they are feeling the same thing, just explaining it in their own way,” he said.

“One might think the tires aren’t working because of the car’s balance. The other feels the same issue, but it’s actually because of tire warm-up. It’s about giving them space to express themselves, then stepping back and looking at the bigger picture.”

Oakes also touched on the challenge of managing drivers through their ups and downs.

“One of the worst things you can do is make a driver feel like the team isn’t listening or is brushing them off,” he explained.

“Over time, you learn when to push and when to support. Sometimes you need to give them a nudge, and other times they just need a bit of encouragement.”

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Oliver Oakes: “I Get Grumpy When Results Fall Short”
Oliver Oakes: “I Get Grumpy When Results Fall Short”