In a dramatic mid-season shake-up, Alpine F1 Team has confirmed the immediate resignation of Team Principal Oliver Oakes, with executive advisor Flavio Briatore stepping in to assume Oakes’ responsibilities alongside his existing role.
The announcement comes just two days after the Miami Grand Prix, where Alpine’s struggles continued in a disappointing 2025 campaign. The team, which entered the season with renewed optimism, finds itself languishing near the back of the grid, without a single points finish to date.
Oakes’ departure follows mounting internal pressure amid Alpine F1‘s poor performance and behind-the-scenes turmoil, particularly surrounding the team’s driver lineup. Appointed less than a year ago after a leadership reshuffle, Oakes was seen as part of Alpine F1’s fresh vision for the future. However, results on track and strategic indecision have cast a shadow over his tenure.
Flavio Briatore, who rejoined the team in an executive capacity in late 2023, will now take the reigns—adding the duties of Team Principal to his advisory role. The 74-year-old, who famously led Renault to two world championships in the mid-2000s, is known for his controversial but high-impact leadership style.
What did Alpine say?
The press release published on Tuesday evening read:
“BWT Alpine Formula One Team announces that Oliver Oakes has resigned from his role as Team Principal.
“The team has accepted his resignation with immediate effect.
“As of today, Flavio Briatore will continue as Executive Advisor and will also be covering the duties previously performed by Oliver Oakes.
“The team would like to thank Oliver for his efforts since he joined last summer and for his contribution in helping the team secure sixth place in the 2024 Constructors’ Championship.
“The team will not be making any further comment.“
Driver change looming: Doohan out, Colapinto in?
This leadership shift comes as Alpine F1 is also expected to make a swift change to its driver lineup, with sources indicating that Jack Doohan is set to be replaced by Franco Colapinto ahead of the next race at Imola.
Doohan, promoted to a full-time race seat for 2025, has endured a difficult start to his rookie season. Despite showing raw speed, outqualifying teammate Pierre Gasly for the first time in Miami, Doohan retired from Sunday’s race after a first-corner collision with Liam Lawson. He remains pointless after six rounds.
His struggles have been compounded by the team’s own underperformance, with the A525 proving to be far less competitive than anticipated despite a promising pre-season.
Colapinto, who officially joined Alpine in January after a stint as a Williams driver, has long been favoured by Briatore. The Argentine driver was already under consideration late last year, even before Doohan made his F1 debut at the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi. His arrival at Imola would mark a rapid acceleration in Alpine’s attempts to stabilise and recalibrate its 2025 campaign.
Uncertain times ahead
Alpine F1 now faces a turbulent stretch as it heads to the iconic Imola Grand Prix, carrying the dual weight of leadership upheaval and driver instability. While Flavio Briatore’s return to frontline of Alpine F1 management adds an unmistakable edge to the paddock narrative, questions loom over whether his old-school methods can guide Alpine F1 through this crisis.
With pressure building both on and off the track, Alpine F1’s 2025 season may be defined as much by politics and personnel as by performance.