Briatore shuts down 'completely false' reason for Oakes exit

Flavio Briatore has denied that Oliver Oakes resigned from his role as Alpine Formula 1 team principal because of the team's decision to swap Franco Colapinto and Jack Doohan with immediate effect.

Oakes's resignation was announced on the evening before Alpine revealed it would be demoting Doohan from race driver to reserve driver, with Colapinto taking his place for at least the next five races.

The Race revealed Doohan was informed of that decision over a Miami Grand Prix weekend in which Oakes left the track early on Sunday night, before facing the media, due to travel commitments.

Our verdict on Alpine's team boss exit and driver swap mess

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Oakes's resignation two days later offered the logical conclusion that Oakes had resigned as a result of the driver decision - with Oakes known to be a supporter of Doohan's place within the team, and executive advisor Briatore keen to get Colapinto into a race seat.

But less than 24 hours after Oakes's exit, Briatore, who is now also Alpine's de facto team boss, moved to quash this notion.

"A lot has been said in the past 24 hours, incorrectly associating the decision of Oli resigning to an alleged disagreement, or that we shared different views. This is completely false and far from the truth," Briatore said in a statement he posted on Instagram with Alpine.

"Me and Oli have a very good relationship and had long-term ambitions to drive this team forward together.

"We accept Oli's request to resign and have therefore accepted his resignation.

"The reasons are not related to the team and are of a personal nature.

"I will continue to be more and more involved with the team, together with the strong management we already have in place.

"We will work hard on improving our position this season and preparing for 2026."

Alpine had previously said at the time of announcing Oakes's exit that it would "not be making any further comment".

More on Alpine's major changes

• Colapinto replaces Doohan at Alpine - but faces review after five races
• Oakes resigns as Alpine team principal amid driver change controversy
• What we know about shock Alpine resignation and fresh chaos
• What made Doohan/Alpine unworkable and a change inevitable

There was also a message from Oakes to the team included in the post.

"It's been a privilege to lead everyone at Enstone, what a team, what a place," Oakes's statement said.

"It is a personal decision to for me to step down. Flavio has been like a father to me, nothing but supportive since I took the role, as well as giving me the opportunity.

"Everyone is in place for 2026 and where this dream deserve to be. I believe in Enstone."