Flavio Briatore Denies Allegations Behind Oakes’ Departure from Alpine F1 Team
In a shocking turn of events, Flavio Briatore, the executive advisor of the Alpine Formula 1 team, has vehemently denied the rumors surrounding Oliver Oakes’ resignation. Speculations were rife that Oakes stepped down from his role as team principal due to disagreements over swapping Franco Colapinto and Jack Doohan. However, Briatore has come forward to set the record straight.
Contrary to the swirling gossip, Briatore clarified, “A lot has been said 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.” He further emphasized, “Me and Oli have a very good relationship and had long-term ambitions to drive this team forward together.”
Oakes’ resignation came just before the announcement of Doohan being demoted to a reserve driver, with Colapinto taking his place for the upcoming races. The timing led many to believe that Oakes’ departure was a consequence of the driver switch, given his support for Doohan. However, Briatore’s statement contradicts these assumptions, stating that Oakes’ reasons for resigning are of a personal nature and unrelated to the team dynamics.
As Briatore steps into a more prominent role within the team, he expressed, “I will continue to be more and more involved with the team, together with the strong management we already have in place.” Despite Oakes’ exit, the team is focused on improving their current position for the ongoing season and gearing up for 2026.
Oakes also bid farewell to the team in a heartfelt message, expressing gratitude for the opportunity and the unwavering support from Briatore. “It’s been a privilege to lead everyone at Enstone, what a team, what a place,” Oakes shared, reaffirming his belief in the team’s future success.
The sudden turn of events at Alpine has sent shockwaves through the F1 community, with fans and experts eagerly awaiting to see how the team will navigate through this transition period. Stay tuned for more updates as the Alpine team braces for the challenges ahead in the exhilarating world of Formula 1.
