Ted Kravitz’s discovery in the Alpine motorhome in Miami might explain exactly why Oliver Oakes resigned

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Alpine capped a remarkable 24 hours by confirming on Wednesday morning that Franco Colapinto would replace Jack Doohan. This follows Oliver Oakes’ resignation as team principal.

Oakes joined Alpine last August as the replacement for Bruno Famin. Famin, who took up a role elsewhere in the company, was only appointed permanently at the start of 2024.

The upheaval continues at Enstone following the summer 2023 sacking of Otmar Szafnauer. Flavio Briatore, previously an advisor to Renault CEO Luca de Meo, will take on team principal duties for the time being.

It was reported last week that Oakes and Briatore disagreed over Doohan. The Englishman was inclined to give the rookie more time.

Ted Kravitz saw ‘very upset’ Jack Doohan in Alpine hospitality before Franco Colapinto switch

Speaking on Sky Sports’ F1 Show, Ted Kravitz pointed out that the ‘pre-season’ rumour had come to fruition. The talk back then was that Doohan would only have until Miami to make his case, and so it proved.

Kravitz became suspicious in the F1 paddock last weekend when he saw the Drive to Survive crews descend on Alpine. Perhaps they had an inkling of what was to come.

Following the race on Sunday – which Doohan failed to finish after a clash with Liam Lawson – the pit-lane reporter saw him looking ‘very upset’ in the Alpine motorhome. It now seems as if he’d just been informed of Briatore’s decision.

This may explain exactly why Oakes walked. He felt Doohan had performed well enough to deserve more time and disagreed with the treatment of the 22-year-old newbie.

“Pre-season, the rumour was that Jack had until Imola to make a big impression, that after Miami, a decision would be made,” Kravitz said. “That’s the point we’re at.

“On Thursday, when the drivers appeared for their interviews, suddenly the whole Drive to Survive crew were at home with Alpine, and I thought to myself, ‘That’s a funny choice for a race like Miami, why are they choosing Alpine out of nowhere to be on both drivers?’.

“The producers of Drive to Survive are not idiots. They know the rumours like everyone else, that there might be a driver change after Miami. Also, the programme’s called Drive to Survive, right? There’s nothing Drive to Survive likes more than a driver change.

“And the third bit of completely circumstantial evidence I have for this… the Drive to Survive cameras were camped outside Alpine for the whole weekend.

“After the race, I went into the Alpine motorhome to get a drink before my notebook, and I had to go past Mick Doohan and Jack Doohan standing at the doorway looking, to quote the great Martin Brundle, like they had root canal surgery on a Monday.

“They both looked very upset. That, I thought, was just to do with Jack’s lap one exit. But I thought to be carrying that still with them, a good hour after the chequered flag, and so publicly, was interesting.”

Oliver Oakes’ joke about Alpine sackings did not age well as Flavio Briatore takes over

Oakes was unhappy that Alpine sources ‘leaked’ Doohan’s exit to the media. He’s apparently not a ‘big fan’ of Colapinto, who scored five points for Williams last year but also crashed heavily multiple times.

It would not have been right for Oakes to continue in his role if the team’s driver line-up didn’t have his full backing. A move to another team is possible, but he had little time to make an impression.

Oakes also disagreed with Esteban Ocon’s early departure last year prior to Doohan’s unforeseen Abu Dhabi debut. He felt he was being ‘forced’ to justify decisions that he privately opposed.

Speaking before the 2025 season, Oakes joked that he wanted to survive until the Belgian GP, the point where his two predecessors had left. That light-hearted remark has aged very poorly indeed.