It has been two days of major changes at Alpine which, following the surprise departure of Oliver Oakes, announced a change in its driver line-up with Franco Colapinto replacing Jack Doohan. The decision to bring in the Argentine was strongly pushed by Flavio Briatore, who is becoming increasingly central to the French team’s project.
The Italian manager has never hidden his admiration for the former Williams driver, which is why he decided to bring him in as a reserve driver, even though Doohan had already been selected for 2025. However, the Australian failed to convince in the first six races of the year, opening the door for a change just before the Imola weekend. That change is not yet final, as the statement makes clear that Franco Colapinto will have five races to earn confirmation for the remainder of the championship.
Is the Argentine behind Oliver Oakes’ resignation?
While Franco Colapinto replacing Doohan had been anticipated for a while, Oliver Oakes’ resignation caught many off guard. The now-former Team Principal decided to leave the team he had led since summer 2024 at a moment no one expected.
But why did he step down? According to what the Italian media has learned, Oliver Oakes was not in favor of Jack Doohan’s early dismissal, while Flavio Briatore pushed for Franco Colapinto’s immediate arrival. This would explain why the former Hitech GP figure decided to part ways with the French team just six races into the season.
Adding to this are some rumors involving Christian Horner. The current Red Bull team boss is far from certain to remain in Milton Keynes. Last year’s internal conflicts, combined with the potential departure of Max Verstappen, could lead to a leadership change in which Oliver Oakes would be involved. He is reportedly one of the top candidates to potentially replace Horner at the helm of Red Bull.
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