On Tuesday, Oliver Oakes abruptly left Alpine. The reason for his departure remains unclear, although it seems to be related to the subsequent dismissal of Jack Doohan. A new future may be on the horizon for the 37-year-old Brit, possibly even within Formula 1. Italian sources are tipping Oakes as a potential successor to Christian Horner at Red Bull. The latter is reportedly under increasing pressure from the Thai majority shareholders.
According to the Italian Autosprint, the Thai Red Bull top brass are waiting to see what the planned upgrades yield during the upcoming Emilia-Romagna GP in Imola. In the first six Grands Prix, Max Verstappen‘s team had to concede to reigning world champion McLaren. Red Bull managed to win one race solely thanks to Verstappen’s class. If the team fails to turn the tide, Oliver Oakes could emerge as a potential replacement for Horner.
On Tuesday, Alpine announced the surprising news that Oakes has stepped down as team boss. All operational power temporarily shifts to senior advisor Flavio Briatore, who previously pulled the strings in Enstone. Since Oakes moved from Formula 2 last year, he has been steadily making progress within the championship – a testament to the potential the relatively young Brit has in a leadership role. The question now is whether Oakes is indeed in line for the position of team boss at Red Bull.
Pressure Mounts on Horner
Last year, Christian Horner could count on the support of the Thai majority shareholders, but that support now appears to be waning. As Red Bull currently struggles to compete against McLaren, a change at the top is being considered. “The Thai faction was responsible for saving Horner in early 2025,” reports FormulaPassion. The Italian outlet is referring to the turmoil within Red Bull following allegations of inappropriate behavior towards Horner.
“However, that support now seems to be diminishing,” continues the editor on duty. “If the upgrades in Imola do not yield the desired results, Horner’s position will once again be under pressure. One of the names that then emerges as a possible successor is Oliver Oakes. His career bears striking similarities to that of Horner; a former driver who became a team boss at a young age. It’s no coincidence that Oakes was linked with Red Bull in early 2024, at the height of the Horner scandal. At that time, he was considered an ‘external’ option, as opposed to internal candidates like Pierre Waché or Jonathan Wheatley.”
