The Alpine F1 team has undergone a radical change in its management structure and driver lineup. Oliver Oakes, who took over as team principal in July 2024, resigned with immediate effect after the Miami Grand Prix. In his place, Flavio Briatore, former Renault director and central figure in the 2008 “Crashgate” scandal, returns to a leading role in Formula 1 as team director of Alpine. Briatore had already been serving as executive advisor since May 2024 and will now lead the team in an effort to turn around their performance in the 2025 season.

At the same time, Alpine has decided to replace driver Jack Doohan with Argentine Franco Colapinto for the next five races, starting with the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. Doohan, who failed to score points in the first six races of the season and had two retirements, will remain as the team’s reserve driver. Colapinto, 21, had already competed in nine races for Williams in 2024 and joins Alpine on a multi-year contract. This move is part of a driver rotation strategy Alpine will implement to evaluate its lineup for the future.

Briatore’s return and the bet on Colapinto

Flavio Briatore’s return to a management role in Formula 1 marks an unexpected turn in the sport’s recent history. After being banned for life in 2009 due to the “Crashgate” scandal, Briatore succeeded in overturning the sanction in 2010, although he remained away from F1 until joining Alpine as executive advisor in 2024. His appointment as team director in 2025 has sparked mixed reactions but also shows Alpine’s intention to regain the leadership and experience that Briatore brought in his previous tenures with Benetton and Renault.

The addition of Franco Colapinto as a main driver represents a bet on young and promising talent. Colapinto, who had already shown his potential with Williams in 2024, will now have the chance to establish himself in the top category of motorsport. Alpine will assess his performance over these five races to decide on his future with the team. This rotation strategy aims to optimize the team’s performance and find the ideal driver combination to climb the constructors’ championship standings.