A major shift is underway at Alpine F1 following a disastrous start to the 2025 season. The French team has announced that Oliver Oakes has stepped down from his role as Team Principal, with Flavio Briatore taking over leadership duties—marking his official return to the Formula 1 pit wall.

Briatore, who rejoined the sport in May 2024 as Alpine’s Executive Advisor, will now assume the additional responsibilities of team principal, the team confirmed in a statement released Tuesday evening.

“The BWT Alpine Formula One Team announces that Oliver Oakes has resigned from his role as Team Principal,” the statement reads. “The team has accepted his resignation with immediate effect. As of today, Flavio Briatore will continue as Executive Advisor and will also assume the responsibilities previously held by Oliver Oakes.”

The announcement comes just 48 hours before the Miami Grand Prix and amid growing pressure due to Alpine’s poor performance. The team has scored only 7 points in the first six races of the season—far below expectations. Pierre Gasly secured a seventh-place finish in Bahrain and added a few points with an eighth place in the Sprint Race at Miami. Meanwhile, rookie Jack Doohan has yet to score, with his best result being 13th in China and two retirements, the latest in Florida.

The team expressed gratitude toward Oakes in the official release:

“We would like to thank Oliver for his efforts since joining last summer and for helping the team secure sixth place in the 2024 Constructors’ Championship. The team will not be making any further comments.”

Briatore’s return to an active management role is significant, especially given his storied past in F1, which includes championship-winning stints with Benetton and Renault. Now, Alpine will look to his experience and bold leadership style to steer the team out of its current crisis and back into competitive form.