Oliver Oakes resigns as Alpine F1 team principal after only ten months

Oliver Oakes has resigned as team principal of the Alpine Formula One team after just ten months in the role.

A statement from the Enstone-based outfit said they had ‘accepted his resignation with immediate effect’.

Flavio Briatore, who will continue as executive advisor, will cover the roles previously performed by Oakes.

At 36 years old, Oakes became the second-youngest team principal in Formula One history when he was appointed in July 2024, arriving from Hitech Grand Prix, a team that competes in major junior motorsport series including Formula Two and Formula Three.

Alpine will now move on to their fourth team principal in five years.

Otmar Szafnauer departed in July 2023, followed almost exactly a year later by Bruno Famin.

No official explanation has been given for Oakes’ departure, but his resignation on 6th May came less than 24 hours before it was announced that reserve driver Franco Colapinto will replace Jack Doohan for the next five races.

Off-track turbulence has seemingly become the norm for the Alpine team, having also shut down its engine programme at Viry-Chatillon – which has designed and produced engines since 1977 – ahead of a switch to Mercedes power units in 2026.

Source: SportsPro.com