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In a surprising turn of events, Oliver Oakes has resigned as Team Principal of the Alpine F1 Team, just six races into the 2025 season. Oakes, who took the helm in July 2024, becomes the fifth team principal to depart the Enstone-based outfit since 2020, highlighting ongoing instability within the team .
Sources indicate that Oakes’s departure was precipitated by internal disagreements over the future of rookie driver Jack Doohan. Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore reportedly advocated for replacing Doohan with reserve driver Franco Colapinto, a move Oakes opposed. This conflict, coupled with Alpine’s disappointing performance—currently ninth in the Constructors’ Championship with only seven points, all scored by veteran driver Pierre Gasly—led to Oakes’s resignation .
Flavio Briatore, aged 75, will assume Oakes’s responsibilities immediately. Briatore, a controversial figure due to his involvement in the 2008 “Crashgate” scandal, returned to Alpine in 2024 as an executive adviser. His reinstatement as team principal marks a significant shift in Alpine’s leadership strategy .
The team has not officially confirmed Colapinto’s promotion, but reports suggest he may replace Doohan as early as the upcoming Emilia Romagna Grand Prix . Additionally, under Briatore’s guidance, Alpine plans to switch from manufacturing its own engines to becoming a Mercedes customer team in 2026, signaling a broader strategic overhaul .
Alpine’s recent turmoil has drawn comparisons to football club Watford’s frequent managerial changes, underscoring the need for stability and clear direction as the team navigates this challenging period .