Alpine: Flavio Briatore denies rift with Oliver Oakes brought about crew main to surrender amid driving force switch controversy

Alpine government marketing consultant Flavio Briatore has brushed aside hypothesis that Oliver Oakes’ resignation as crew main was once brought about by way of a confrontation between the pair.

Alpine introduced on Tuesday night time that Oakes has resigned after simply 10 months as crew main, together with his tasks being taken over by way of Briatore, who oversaw a couple of international titles for Benetton within the 1990s and Renault within the mid-2000s.

Oakes’ resignation was once adopted on Wednesday morning by way of affirmation that the crew have been shedding driving force Jack Doohan for Franco Colapinto, resulting in the logical assumption that the 2 eventualities have been attached.

However, Briatore put out a commentary by the use of his Instagram account on Wednesday afternoon wherein he insisted he keeps a robust dating with Oakes and that the 37-year-old’s departure was once because of “personal” causes.

“A lot has been said in the past 24 hours, 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,” Briatore mentioned in a commentary that was once collectively posted with the Alpine crew’s reputable Instagram account.

“Me and Oli have an excellent dating and had long-term ambitions to pressure this crew ahead in combination.

“We settle for Oli’s request to surrender and feature subsequently accredited his resignation.

“The reasons are not related to the team and are of a personal nature.

“I will be able to proceed to be an increasing number of concerned with the crew, at the side of the robust control we have already got in position.

“We will work hard on improving our position this season and preparing for 2026.”

The submit additionally incorporated a commentary from Oakes, wherein he showed Briatore’s claims.

“It’s been a privilege to lead everyone at Enstone, what a team, what a place,” Oakes mentioned.

“It is a personal decision to for me to step down. Flavio has been like a father to me, nothing but supportive since I took the role, as well as giving me the opportunity.

“Everyone is in position for 2026 and the place this dream merits to be. I imagine in Enstone.”

Oakes based Hitech Grand Prix in 2015, with the British-based outfit impressing in single-seater championships, together with Formula 2 and Formula 3. The Briton is a former racing driving force and received the 2005 karting international name.

He took over from Otmar Szafnauer as Alpine crew main in August 2024 and oversaw a impressive double podium for Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly in Brazil later that yr.

Briatore is a arguable determine in F1 after being a part of the “Crashgate” scandal which noticed his driving force Nelson Piquet deliberately crash on the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to assist Renault team-mate Fernando Alonso win the race.

He won an entire life ban from F1 for his involvement within the incident however this was once overturned by way of a French courtroom.

The 75-year-old returned to F1 in May 2024 as Alpine’s government marketing consultant.

Briatore has been concerned with F1 for the reason that early 1990s, and loved championship luck with Michael Schumacher in 1994 and 1995, then Fernando Alonso in 2005 and 2006.

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