The Alpine team lived an internal symbronazo. In the midst of the key movements that profile their project by 2026, the French team announced the surprise resignation of Oliver Oakes, who since August 2024 served as director of the team. The news was accompanied by an official statement seeking disable speculation about an alleged conflict between Oakes and Flavio Briatorein the context of the recent promotion of Argentine Franco Colapinto as a titular pilot replacing Jack Doohan.
In the center of the public pronouncement is the figure of Flavio Briatore, who took the floor to dissipate the versions about an internal fracture with Oakes. “Much has been said in the last 24 hours by incorrectly associating Oli’s decision to resign an alleged disagreement, or that we shared different points of view. This is completely false and is far from the truth”, Said the Italian manager in an official statement released on Wednesday by the Esteone -based team.
“We respect Oli’s request to resign and, therefore, we have accepted his resignation. The reasons are not related to the team and are personal”, Added Briatore, while confirming that he will continue to assume operational functions after the departure of the British, in addition to his work as an advisor.
The conciliatory tone of the statement aims to soften the tensions after days of rumors and leaks on an intern between Oakes and Briatore. Sources close to Paddock had linked the resignation of disagreement around the continuity of Doohan, a pilot firmly backed by Okes since the beginning of the season, but who lost his place in the team in the hands of Colapinto, who arrived at the Alpine project with the endorsement of the Briatore himself.
The statement also included statements from Oakes himself, who, not to mention controversies, expressed his affection for the Alpine structure and thanked Briatare for the opportunity received. “It has been a privilege to direct everyone in Estone, what team, what place. It is a personal decision for me to resign. Flavio has been like a father for me, he has only supported me since I assumed the position, in addition to giving me the opportunity.”the now former team director wrote.
Oakes also highlighted the course of the Alpine project with a view to the new regulation of 2026: “Everyone is in place for 2026 and where this dream deserves to be. I believe in Estone”he concluded.
Oliver Oakes, 36, had assumed the team’s direction in August 2024, becoming the second youngest director in the history of Formula 1. with the past as a pilot (he was a world champion of Karting in 2005 and a member of the Youth Talents program of Red Bull), his career as a leader won notoriety as founder and director of the Hitech Grand Prix team, which competes in F2 and F3.
His arrival in Alpine was driven directly by Flavio Briatore, who at the time of his designation described him as “a pilot with great talent and a great leadership trajectory.” In his first year at the head of Alpine, Oakes contributed to consolidate the sixth place of the team in the 2024 Construction Championship.
However, the context became tense in recent weeks. Despite the public statements of Okes in favor of Jack Doohan, Briatore chose to give in to the pressure of results and give entry to Colapinto, a maneuver that fed the version of a disagreement that the team tries to deny today.
“With such an matched grill this year, and with a competitive car, we see the need to rotate our alignment. We also know that the 2026 season will be important for the team and make a complete and fair evaluation of the pilots this season is the right thing,” said Briatore about the choice of Franco Colapinto, who will be in charge of the French team vehicle for at least 5 races. His adventure will begin in the Gran Prize of Emilia Romaña in Isola. It is estimated that Briatore invested about 20 million dollars to ensure the transfer of collapint from Williams for five seasons.
With the departure of Oakes, Flavio Briatore concentrates even more power within the team. Since his return to the foreground of motor racing with Alpine, the Italian businessman has promoted a deep restructuring of the team, aiming to recover the lost prominence and prepare for the new era of formula 1 that will begin in 2026. Meanwhile, the team is committed to evaluating Franco Colapinto on track, in a stage of five decisive races for the future of the team.
