A few hours before announcing the rise of Franco Colapinto to the headline of Alpine, the director of the team, Oliver Oakes, announced his departure from the team with immediate effect and inevitably all linked his resignation to the decision to do without Jack Doohan in favor of the Argentine pilot.
The majority of accusing fingers pointed at that time to Flavio Briatore, who became an advisor to the Estone structure in June 2024 and opted to get Williams Collapint to take him to Alpine and give him the opportunity he will have from Icola.
In addition, with the departure of Okes, the Italian has also become Alpine’s visible head, so he would have benefited. However, through their social networks, Briatore denied in his social networks that Oakes’s goodbye is related to him.
“There has been a lot of talk in the last 24 hours incorrectly associating OLI’s decision to give up an alleged disagreement with me, or that we shared different points of view. This is completely false and is far from reality.”
He added: “OLI and I have a very good relationship and we had long -term ambitions to improve this team together. We respect OLI’s request to resign and, therefore, we have accepted their resignation. The reasons are not related to the team and are of a personal nature.”
Briatore also confirmed that after the departure of Oliver Oakes, it will be he who from one step forward to take more responsibilities in the teamwith a main approach in the change of regulations that will enter into force in the next season of Formula 1.
“I will continue to get more and more involved in the team, along with the solid address we already have. We will work hard to improve our position this season and prepare for 2026,” he said.
To strengthen his message, Briatore added a message from Oliver Oakes himself in which he assured that it had been a personal resignation and thanked the opportunity and support provided by the Italian at all times since his arrival in Estone.
“It has been a privilege to lead everyone in Estone, what a team, what place! It is a personal decision for me to resign. Flavio has been like a father for me, he has supported me unconditionally since I assumed the position, in addition to giving me the opportunity. Everyone is prepared for 2026 and to be where this dream deserves to be! I believe in Estone,” he said.
-Oliver Oakes, Alpine
Photo from: Peter Fox / Getty Images
