F1 team principal resigns with immediate effect just six races into season

Flavio Briatore is making a comeback as a Formula 1 team principal, following the resignation of Alpine chief Oliver Oakes. In addition to his new role, Briatore will continue serving as the team's Executive Advisor.

Oakes' departure comes hot on the heels of rumours of Jack Doohan being dropped after just six races with Alpine. The 22-year-old has yet to score a point this season and .

Oakes did not conduct his post-Miami Grand Prix media duties with official reasoning said to be "due to a change in travel plans". Oakes was named team principal last July, succeeding Bruno Famin and was Alpine's fourth team boss in less than four years.

"Alpine Formula One Team announces that Oliver Oakes has resigned from his role as Team Principal. The team has accepted his resignation with immediate effect," Alpine declared in a statement.

"From today, Flavio Briatore will continue as Executive Advisor and will also take over the duties previously carried out by Oliver Oakes. The team would like to express gratitude to Oliver for his efforts since joining last summer and for his contribution in helping the team secure sixth place in the 2024 Constructors' Championship.

"The team will not be making any further comment."

When asked about the prospect of Doohan losing his seat on Friday, Oakes replied: "Yeah, as it is today, Jack is our driver along with Pierre (Gasly). We've been pretty clear on that. We always evaluate, but yeah - today, that is the case.

"Jack needs to continue doing a good job. But it's natural that there's always speculation there."

Briatore was once handed a lifetime ban from the sport for his role in the 'Crashgate' row and fixing scandal when Fernando Alonso won the 2009 Singapore Grand Prix. But a French court has since overturned the suspension.

Alpine sit ninth in the Constructors' Championship out of 10 teams and have picked up just six points from the opening six races, with a trip to Imola next and Doohan is expected to follow Oakes out of the door by then.