“I think there is something rotten in Alpine,” says Chandhok

The Alpine team was the main protagonist in the days after the F1 Miami Grand Prix, and not for having wore on the track last weekend. In fact, the one who passed was one of the most complicated for the Escudería de Estone so far this season.

Pierre Gasly had many problems to be competitive, which resulted in his worst classification session of the season when he was eliminated in the Q1 before finishing 13th on Sunday, while Jack Doohan, although he surpassed his partner on Saturday as he moved to Q2, but did not pass the first round in the race after colliding with Liam Lawson, from racing Bulls, in the initial curve.

However, the news that were unleashed from Alpine after the Round of Miami put it in the first flat of the world of formula 1, and more too.

On Monday the departure of Oliver Oakes, head of the team since July of last year, was reported by express decision of the British, as officially reported. The next day, Franco Colapinto was confirmed as a new title pilot in replacement of Doohan, at least for the next five races.

The rise of the Argentine reserve pilot to headline at the Australian place was something expected, but Oakes’ resignation took the Paddock of the highest category by surprise.

It was quickly understood as a reaction of the hitherto chief of the team to the decision to change pilots, but Flavio Briatore, executive advisor of Alpine and now also in charge of the functions that Okes had, said on Tuesday that the reasons for the resignation “are not related to the team and are of a personal nature” of Okes, something that accompanied the outgoing boss himself.

Karun Chandhok, who had a brief step as a F1 pilot but since 2021 is a usual presence in the Paddock as an analyst for Sky Sports F1 of Britain, believes that the true reason for Oakes’s exit is not yet known.

“It smells like something strange. I think there is something more rotten in Alpine,” he said in an analysis for Sky.

“He has not only resigned from a pilot decision. He has not renounced the opportunity to be one of the ten team directors of the motor racing elite, based on who will occupy second place.”

“So, for me, there are more things at stake that have not yet been revealed.”

The journalist Craig Slater coincided with Chandhok’s gaze by sharing the analysis for the British chain.

“All the indications that have given me indicate that their exit is not necessarily related to the exchange of pilots. It may be something else. It may be the right time to be put aside in the shadow of this,” he said.