Podcast
F1 EXPLAINS: Ask an F1 Team Principal with Alpine boss Oliver Oakes
Share
“You've got to balance what everybody wants, but also you’ve got to make the right choices for the team. You're never going to make everyone happy all the time.”
Oliver Oakes is telling the F1 Explains podcast about his job. A former World Champion driver in karts, and a team boss in junior categories of motorsport, Oakes is now Team Principal of Alpine.
The Briton was 36 years old when he took over from Bruno Famin in summer 2024, making him the second-youngest F1 team boss in history. He and Sauber’s Jonathan Wheatley are the two newest team principals in the sport today.
Oakes leads drivers Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan, as well as the 900 people who work for the team at the racetrack and the factory in the UK.
This feature is currently not available because you need to provide consent to functional cookies. Please update your
“I don't see it as pressure,” he tells F1 Explains podcast presenter Christian Hewgill when asked about his role.
“Obviously you have a big responsibility because you represent a lot of people, a brand, a team. I think I probably put more pressure on myself that I'm quite grumpy if I have a bad day or a bad result. I just want to do well anyway because that's who I am.”
READ MORE: Doohan praises Alpine for removing pressure around his future with the team
In the full podcast episode, which you can listen to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or via the player on this page, Oakes answers listener questions on the different aspects of his job.
Listener Jimmy asked how he responds when Gasly and Doohan give their feedback on the car. F1 drivers do this in ‘debrief’ meetings after every practice session, Qualifying or Grand Prix. They tell engineers and senior managers how they felt in the car, what they think is working well, and what needs to be improved.
“You never get the same feedback from both drivers,” says Oakes.
Oakes became Team Principal at Alpine in the summer of 2024
“You need to delve into that – where are they both coming from? Sometimes they are both feeling the same thing, but it's coming from different ways. One could be feeling the tyres aren't working because of balance in the car. The other driver has the same feeling, but it's actually because of his tyre warm-up.
“I think a lot of it is almost letting them get it off their chest and then taking a bit of a breather and having a look into it.”
F1 EXPLAINS: Ask an F1 Team Principal with Williams boss James Vowles
Oakes won a World Championship in karting in 2005. He then joined and relaunched the Hitech team, which now competes in categories including Formula 2, Formula 3 and F1 ACADEMY. He feels the experience gained from his earlier career as a driver and junior team boss helps him understand the F1 stars he now manages.
“One of the worst things you can do is where you feel the team isn't listening to you or they shoot you down immediately.
Oakes feels that his earlier career as a driver and junior team boss helps him to understand the F1 stars he now manages
“I think over the years you sort of learn to pick your battles with [drivers] as well. There are times when probably you need to give them a bit of a kick, and there are times when you need to give them a bit of love as well.”
Balancing constructive criticism and encouragement will be crucial as Oakes aims to lead Alpine to challenge for race wins and World Championships, like the team did when they were called Benetton in the 1990s and Renault in the 2000s.
The full episode of F1 Explains is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all other podcast apps here, or you can listen using the player above on this page.
F1 Explains is the official F1 podcast which answers your questions about the sport. You can send your questions to F1Explains@F1.com.
RACE TICKETS - MONACO
Don't miss your chance to experience the world's most famous street circuit...
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Video RACE START: Watch the getaway at Imola as Verstappen makes an incredible move on Piastri for the lead
News OFFICIAL GRID: Who’s where as Tsunoda starts from Imola pit lane
News Verstappen talks through bold Piastri pass that ‘unleashed’ Red Bull’s pace in statement Imola victory drive
Feature FACTS AND STATS: Verstappen’s Imola record and Hamilton’s best Ferrari result to date
