Oakes charts Alpine’s winning path inspired by Red Bull’s success
Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes is setting out to transform the Enstone squad into a competitive powerhouse in F1 – a mission very similar to the daunting task a young Christian Horner took on at Red Bull two decades ago.
Interestingly, the parallels between Oakes and Horner run deep, with both sharing not only similar career paths but also a determination to build winning teams against the odds.
Much like Horner, who left behind his driving dreams to focus on management with Arden International, Oakes made a similar pivot. He went from a promising racing career, including a 2005 karting world championship, to co-founding the Hitech GP team in Formula 2 and Formula 3.
“I think it sort of only dawned on me really taking this role, some of those similarities,” the 36-year-old team boss told Reuters in Brazil recently.
“I guess it’s something to aspire to as well in terms of what they (Red Bull) have achieved.”
Having raced under Red Bull’s junior driver program in his early years, Oakes understands firsthand the standards Horner has set for F1 success – a level that inspires his own management at Alpine.
Both men share the unique experience of having worked closely with Red Bull’s Helmut Marko.
The Austrian, known for his intense yet supportive “carrot and stick” approach, has played a significant role in Oakes’ career growth.
“That’s more friendship as well as things to do with the day job,” Oakes said of his ongoing relationship with Marko.
“Helmut’s been a big mentor to me over the years… But he’s phenomenal. That team, that company, what they’ve achieved — the triangular management approach there with (now-departed designer) Adrian (Newey), Helmut, Christian all together.
“They have been the sort of reference point for a lot of people.”
©RedBull
Oakes has clearly absorbed these lessons, striving to foster similar synergy and clarity of vision at Alpine.
Alpine’s recent banner weekend at Interlagos, with Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly taking second and third place in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, lifted the team from ninth to sixth in the constructors’ standings.
Yet, Alpine’s struggles earlier in the season, before his arrival at Enstone, showed Oakes the tough road ahead.
Like Red Bull in the early days, Alpine has dealt with significant challenges, from performance struggles to uncertainties about its future engine supply.
Renault’s decision to cease producing their own F1 engines after 2026 sparked concern within the Alpine team, especially among staff at the Viry-Chatillon plant in France.
However, Oakes, true to his “results-first” mentality, said that he supported the decision for Alpine to look outside for engine suppliers – with Mercedes confirmed this week at its power unit partner from 2026.
“I just want the best engine for the team,” Oakes asserted. “F1, as we can see at the moment, is a very tight battle at the front and also at the midfield. And therefore, selfishly, that’s what I want.
“I wouldn’t say there was a mandate (for Alpine) to be a French team. There is a mandate to be the best Formula 1 team you can be.”
Oakes’ approach mirrors Horner’s focus back in the day on cutting through bureaucracy to drive results.
This clarity of purpose is something the Briton clearly shares with his current boss, Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore who was brought back to Enstone last summer by Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo.
“Working with Flavio… I think the first thing that stands out is they’re not here for the bullshit,” Oakes said, crediting the flamboyant Italian’s direct approach with keeping Alpine grounded in their objectives.
“They’re here to go racing. And they’re massively important because actually, you know, they just cut to the point.”
As Oakes leads Alpine’s resurgence, he demonstrates his belief that age is irrelevant when it comes to leadership.
His extensive experience in motorsport stretches back to childhood, from karting at four to racing in formula cars until his early 20s.
“I started racing as a four-year-old and then I was karting until I was 16, 17… I kind of don’t feel young,” he admitted.
“I feel like I’ve been in racing forever,” he remarks, emphasizing that his knowledge of the sport goes far beyond his years.
Oakes envisions a future for Alpine where hard work, clear strategy, and innovation elevate the team in the same way Horner elevated Red Bull.
And with the team’s double-podium result in São Paulo, he's certainly off to a good start.
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