Alpine has confirmed Oliver Oakes will take over as team principal after the summer break, replacing the outgoing Bruno Famin.
As reported by RACER when Famin announced his planned departure during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, Hitech founder and team principal Oakes was lined up to replaced him following the unsuccessful bid to get Hitech on to the grid last year. At the age of 36, Oakes will become the second-youngest team principal in Formula 1 history, and will start work at the end of August.
“I am extremely grateful to Luca de Meo and Flavio Briatore for this opportunity to lead BWT Alpine F1 Team back to competitiveness,” Oakes said. “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.”
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Alpine references the winning culture there has been at Hitech among the reasons that made Oakes so attractive, with Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo pointing to the impact a similar approach can have on the team.
“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,” de Meo said. “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.”
While Oakes — whose Hitech team enjoyed significant investment from Dmitry Mazepin in the past and is 25% owned by Kazakh billionaire Vladimir Kim — will officially report to de Meo, he is the first senior hire since Flavio Briatore returned in an executive advisor role.
“I am delighted that we have been able to recruit Oli Oakes for our Formula 1 project,” Briatore said. “Oli is highly talented with a great record of leadership and success in racing. 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.”