Oliver Oakes could bring ‘superb’ F2 driver to Alpine if he replaces Bruno Famin

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Bruno Famin will leave the role of team principal at Alpine, it was announced at the Belgian Grand Prix on Friday. Famin will remain with the company, but instead manage other motorsport activities at Viry.

It was only a year ago that Famin took on the position, initially on a temporary basis. He did so after the shock exit of Otmar Szafnauer, which also emerged at the Belgian GP.

Alpine are enduring their poorest campaign since the 2021 rebrand. After 13 races, they’ve scored just nine points, which leaves them eighth in the championship.

Hitech GP founder Oliver Oakes has emerged as the ‘front runner’ to take over from Famin, according to Auto Motor und Sport’s Tobi Gruner. Oakes, a former karting world champion and Red Bull junior driver, set up the team in 2015.

The team currently competes in the Formula 2 and Formula 3 championships, among other series. While they’re now well-established at the junior level, this would still be a big step up for Oakes.

Indeed, he’d be joining the team at a time of profound change. Alpine also indicated on Friday that they’re looking to secure an external engine supply deal – reports suggest they have already reached an agreement in principle with Mercedes.

Paul Aron could join Alpine if Oliver Oakes takes over

According to Gruner, the prospective arrival of Oakes catapults Paul Aron into the 2025 Alpine conversation. Hitech driver Aron came into the Belgian GP weekend second in the championship behind Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar.

Alpine recently tied Pierre Gasly down to a new multi-year contract. But they have a vacancy in the ‘second cockpit’, with Esteban Ocon leaving to join Haas.

Carlos Sainz has been a contender, but one journalist spotted the Sainz camp leaving the Williams motorhome at Spa. The Enstone outfit will be making contingency plans in case they lose out on the three-time race-winner.

A recent report claimed Alpine were prioritising reserve driver Jack Doohan, but Oakes could change the landscape. Mick Schumacher, who represents the team in the World Endurance Championship, has also been linked.

“With Oliver Oakes emerging as front runner to replace Bruno Famin as team principal of Alpine you have to put Paul Aron on the list of contenders for the second Alpine cockpit next year,” Gruner wrote.

Who is ‘superb’ Alpine contender Paul Aron?

Labelled ‘superb’ by Oakes himself (F2), Aron used to be part of the Mercedes driver academy before the Silver Arrows cut ties at the end of 2023. He seems to have fallen victim to the rise of Kimi Antonelli.

But Aron has been beating the Italian in F2 this season, and has also comfortably outshone Haas-bound Oliver Bearman. Granted Prema as a whole have struggled, but he and Hadjar are making an F1 case that’s difficult to ignore.

After finishing third in the Formula Regional European Championship in back-to-back seasons, the Estonian graduated to Formula 3 last year. He once again took the bronze-medal position after picking up four podiums in 18 races.

That earned the 20-year-old a promotion to F2, where he’s still chasing a first victory. His consistency has been key – he’s scored seven podiums already this year – and his pace in qualifying has been impressive too.

Indeed, he claimed his second consecutive pole and his third of the season in Friday afternoon’s session. Aron has also had a taste of Formula E, but he’ll still be holding out hope of an F1 opportunity.