Alpine has their new leader.
Less than a week after the team confirmed that Bruno Famin was stepping aside as Team Principal to focus on his role overseeing all of Renault’s motorsport activities, Alpine has their new boss. The team announced on Wednesday that Oliver Oakes would be taking over as Alpine’s Team Principal, starting with next month’s Dutch Grand Prix.
“It is a pleasure to welcome Oli to the team and for him to become one of the youngest Team Principals that this sport has ever seen,” said Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault. “This team is being built for future success and this is highlighted by Oli’s appointment in a senior role. We look forward to harnessing his enthusiasm, energy and passion for racing and realising that mindset across the entire team.”
“I am delighted that we have been able to recruit Oli Oakes for our Formula 1 project. Oli is highly talented with a great record of leadership and success in racing,” said Flavio Briatore. “His move into this role is a great example of the strength and belief we have in our team and by young, upcoming people, and I’m excited to work closely with him with a joint focus on moving up the grid and winning races.”
“I am extremely grateful to Luca de Meo and Flavio Briatore for this opportunity to lead BWT Alpine F1 Team back to competitiveness,” said Oakes. “The team has talented people and excellent resources at its core, and I am confident that we can accomplish a great deal together during the remainder of this season and the longer term. I look forward to getting started after the summer break.”
Oakes began his motorsport journey as a racer, and his on-track resume includes winning the Karting World Championship back in 2005. Oakes worked his way through the junior ranks and at one point was a member of Red Bull’s driver program.
He then moved into Formula BMW, driving for Carlin Motorsport, debuting with both a pole position and a victory. Oakes claimed three podiums and several strong finishes throughout the season to finish sixth in the Championship.
When his driving days ended in 2010 he founded Team Oakes Racing, a karting team and management service in 2011. Some of the drivers who spent time at Team Oakes include Callum Ilott, Marcus Armstrong, and Nikita Mazepin.
Oakes then founded Hitech Grand Prix in 2015, which has competed in various feeder programs including F3 and F2. The team also expressed an interest in joining the F1 grid when the FIA opened up a bidding process for a spot in the field, but ultimately the FIA went with the proposed Andretti-Cadillac venture.
Now Oakes will himself make the leap to the grid, at a time when Alpine is undergoing tremendous changes. Not only is there still a seat to fill alongside Pierre Gasly — who was confirmed earlier this season to be returning to Alpine on a “multi-year” contract — but there is speculation that Alpine will shutter their powertrain division and become a customer team, perhaps working with Mercedes.
Will we learn the other driver Oakes will be working with next season later this week, or ahead of Oakes’ debut on pit wall?
Time will tell.
