The Formula 1 paddock was rocked this week by the sudden Oliver Oakes Alpine F1 exit, sparking widespread speculation and debate about the true reasons behind his departure.
Oakes who had been at the helm for less than a year leaves a legacy of both promise and controversy, and his exit comes at a critical juncture for the Enstone-based team.
Alpine’s official statement issued just days after the Miami Grand Prix confirmed the team principal’s immediate resignation and announced that Flavio Briatore, the team’s executive advisor, would assume his duties in the interim.
The brevity of the announcement and the lack of detail only fueled rumors regarding internal strife, particularly surrounding recent driver changes and the influence of Briatore on team decisions.
According to Auto Action, the catalyst for Oliver Oakes Alpine F1 exit appears to be the highly publicized decision to replace rookie driver Jack Doohan with reserve driver Franco Colapinto, a move that coincided with the Miami Grand Prix.
Reports suggest that Oakes was a staunch supporter of Doohan and had advocated for giving the young Australian more time to prove himself.
Briatore, on the other hand, is believed to have favored Colapinto, who has strong backing within the Alpine organization and is considered a favorite of both Briatore and Renault CEO de Meo.
The situation reportedly came to a head when Alpine allegedly leaked that Briatore had personally made the call to sack Doohan following his retirement in Miami, a move that left Oakes feeling undermined and ultimately led to his resignation.
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Official: Franco Colapinto replaces Jack Doohan at Alpine F1
Alpine F1 Team principal Oliver Oakes resigns as Flavio Briatore takes over
Briatore denies conflict rumours
Despite the mounting speculation, Flavio Briatore categorically denied that Oliver Oakes Alpine F1 exit was the result of conflicting views or internal power struggles.
In a statement posted on Instagram the 75-year old said: “A lot has been said in the past 24 hours, incorrectly associating the decision of Oli resigning to an alleged disagreement, or that we shared different views. This is completely false and far from the truth.
“Me and Oli have a very good relationship and had long-term ambitions to drive this team forward together. We accept Oli’s request to resign and have therefore accepted his resignation.
“The reasons are not related to the team and are of a personal nature. I will continue to be more and more involved with the team, together with the strong management we already have in place.
“We will work hard on improving our position this season and preparing for 2026.”
Oakes himself echoed Briatore’s sentiments in a farewell message to the Enstone staff.
“It’s been a privilege to lead everyone at Enstone, what a team, what a place,” Oakes added. “It is a personal decision to for me to step down.
“Flavio has been like a father to me, nothing but supportive since I took the role, as well as giving me the opportunity.
“Everyone is in place for 2026 and where this dream deserve to be. I believe in Enstone.”
In the wake of Oliver Oakes Alpine F1 exit, the team faces a period of uncertainty as it seeks to regroup and refocus ahead of the next round at Imola.
Briatore who will temporarily assume the responsibilities of team principal is supported by a strong technical leadership team that includes executive technical director David Sanchez, racing director Dave Greenwood and sporting director Richard Lockwood.
The main challenge remains to be maintaining stability and continuity during the transitional phase while also addressing the underlying issues that have contributed to the team’s recent struggles on and off the track.
