Alpine F1 team appoint Oliver Oakes as fifth boss in four years

Oliver Oakes, aged 36, has been named as the principal of Alpine, a Formula 1 team owned by Renault. He is set to take on the role after the August break, becoming the fifth boss of the under-performing team in the span of four years.

Oakes, a former racer and karting champion who founded Hitech Grand Prix and competed in various junior series, will be the second youngest team boss in the modern era of the championship.

Renault Group Chief Executive Luca de Meo expressed his pleasure in welcoming Oakes to the team, highlighting his appointment as a significant step towards building future success. Oakes will be taking over from Bruno Famin, who held the position for a year.

The Frenchman succeeded Otmar Szafnauer, who took over from Laurent Rossi in February 2022. Rossi was appointed in January 2021 following the departure of Cyril Abiteboul.

Alpine, which achieved titles as Benetton and Renault in the 1990s and 2000s, has faced challenges this season, earning only 11 points from 14 races.

They currently hold the eighth position overall, having finished sixth in 2023 and fourth in 2022.

"Oli possesses exceptional talent and a strong track record in leadership and racing success," stated former team principal Flavio Briatore, who now serves as an adviser to De Meo.

"His transition into this role exemplifies the confidence and belief we have in our team and in young, up-and-coming individuals. I am eager to collaborate closely with him to elevate our position on the grid and secure victories."

Oakes expressed confidence in the team's talented personnel and outstanding resources, stating, "I am certain that together we can achieve significant success for the remainder of this season and beyond. I am looking forward to getting started after the summer break."