Oliver Oakes: Alpine F1 staff predominant resigns with speedy impact amid Jack Doohan long term hypothesis

Alpine have introduced staff predominant Oliver Oakes has resigned with speedy impact.

Oakes, who changed into Alpine boss closing summer time, may have his tasks taken over through government consultant Flavio Briatore, who oversaw a couple of international titles for Benetton within the 1990s and Renault within the mid-2000s.

The surprise announcement comes after Sky Sports News discovered Alpine are bearing in mind shedding motive force Jack Doohan forward of the following F1 race at Imola on May 16-18, with reserve motive force Franco Colapinto in line for a go back.

Alpine stated: “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 lately, Flavio Briatore will proceed as government consultant and can be protecting the tasks up to now carried out through Oliver Oakes.

“The staff wish to thank Oliver for his efforts since he joined closing summer time and for his contribution in serving to the staff protected 6th position within the 2024 Constructors’ Championship.

“The team will not be making any further comment.”

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

He took over from Otmar Szafnauer as Alpine staff predominant in August 2024 and noticed the 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 motive 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 through a French courtroom.

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

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

Why has Oakes resigned?

Sky Sports’ Nigel Chiu:

“This all likely comes back to Jack Doohan’s uncertain future. So far, the 22-year-old has had a difficult rookie campaign at Alpine, including two big crashes in Australia and Japan, then a remarkable rant at the last race in Miami when he was knocked out in the first part of Sprint Qualifying.

“Doohan got here into the season below large drive because of the signing of Franco Colapinto as Alpine reserve motive force. However, Doohan has reputedly had the backing of Oliver Oakes.

“When Alpine signed Colapinto, Flavio Briatore described the Argentine as ‘among the best young talents in motorsport’ and is clearly a fan of him.

“Perhaps Briatore and Oakes have clashed over who must power along Pierre Gasly this season and Briatore has gained the fight, if this information is anything else to move through, resulting in Oakes’ surprise resignation.”

F1’s European season begins with the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on May 16-18, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime