Alpine F1 Team Faces Leadership Shake-Up
In a surprising development, Alpine F1 Team principal Oliver Oakes has resigned after just six races of the 2025 season, prompting Flavio Briatore to assume his responsibilities temporarily. The change comes amid speculation of internal disagreements regarding team decisions, particularly the recent substitution of Jack Doohan with reserve driver Franco Colapinto for the next five races.
Briatore, the team’s executive advisor, firmly denied any conflict, stating, "A lot has been said incorrectly associating the decision of Oli resigning to an alleged disagreement. This is completely false." He emphasized the personal nature of Oakes’ resignation and reiterated their strong working relationship.
Oakes expressed gratitude to the Enstone staff, describing his tenure as a privilege and thanking Briatore for his support. "It is a personal decision for me to step down… Everyone is in place for 2026 and where this dream deserves to be!" he stated.
As Briatore takes on Oakes’ duties, he will work alongside the technical leadership team, including tech chief David Sanchez, racing director Dave Greenwood, and sporting director Richard Lockwood. "I will continue to be more and more involved with the team," Briatore confirmed, as Alpine aims to improve its performance this season and prepare for future challenges.
