In a shocking turn of events, Oliver Oakes has abruptly resigned from his position as the team principal of Alpine, effective immediately. The unexpected announcement came late in the evening, sending shockwaves through the paddock and leaving everyone stunned. Oakes, the youngest team principal in Formula 1, took on the role just last summer, but has now handed over the reins to none other than Flavio Briatore.
The news of Oakes’ resignation was delivered through a brief statement released on social media by the Enstone team. With just a few lines, the departure of the promising young leader was confirmed, paving the way for Italian manager Flavio Briatore to step in. Briatore, who was already serving as the team’s Executive Advisor, will now assume full control of the team, both formally and operationally.
The official statement from the BWT Alpine Formula One Team read, “The team has accepted his resignation with immediate effect. Starting today, Flavio Briatore will continue to serve as the Executive Consultant, taking on the responsibilities previously held by Oliver Oakes.” Despite expressing gratitude for Oakes’ efforts and his role in helping the team secure a sixth-place finish in the 2024 Constructors’ Championship, no further comments were provided by the team.
Speculations are rife regarding the possible reasons behind Oakes’ sudden departure, especially since there were no apparent signs of internal discord within the team leading to such a drastic decision. However, the situation took a different turn following Oakes’ absence from a scheduled press conference in Miami last weekend. There were widespread expectations within Alpine for Franco Colapinto to be promoted to a full-time driver ahead of Jack Doohan, whose performance at the beginning of the season was deemed unsatisfactory.
The Formula 1 community is now left wondering about the true motivations behind this dramatic shake-up at Alpine, as Flavio Briatore steps into a more prominent role within the team. Stay tuned for further developments as this story continues to unfold in the high-stakes world of motorsport.