Is Renault meddling too much with Alpine’s F1 team? Oakes refutes that theory

Alpine staff principal Oliver Oakes has responded to feedback from Otmar Szafnauer hitting out on the Renault management, asserting his System 1 staff is “very fortunate to have that assist”.

Szafnauer was Alpine’s staff principal from February 2022 to July 2023. They subsequently parted methods as a result of American and Renault CEO Luca de Meo disagreeing on the staff’s timeline for achievement, as a number of key figures from the squad had been proven the door.

On the time, Alpine was following a 100-race plan launched by Laurent Rossi, then Alpine CEO, in October 2021 “to achieve a stage of competitiveness that locations us on the rostrum as many instances as potential in 2024” earlier than reaching the entrance of the grid the subsequent yr – which Szafnauer felt was too formidable, reckoning success was potential on the long run.

Seventy-four grands prix have taken place for the reason that now-abandoned 100-race plan was launched, and Alpine achieved simply 4 top-eight finishes in 2024 – together with its sensational double podium on the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Asked in April 2024 whether Renault understood what it took to be successful in F1, Szafnauer retorted: “Not from what I noticed.

“I believe the very best factor, and never simply Renault however for giant automobile corporations to do – and I’ve seen it rather a lot, even with automobile corporations which have racing as a part of their DNA: they should not meddle. Go away it! It is a lot totally different from a automobile firm, it is best to simply go away it to the specialists.”

Oakes, who took up the staff principal mantle after interim boss Bruno Famin departed in August 2024, acknowledged there have been ‘components of reality’ in Szafnauer’s opinion however nonetheless defended the Renault management’s method.

“What I’d say is that it’s not all the time one measurement matches all,” Oakes told Autosport in an exclusive interview.

“I believe it’s honest to say that components of it are true – and he’s a superb mate, he’s been right here earlier than – however I believe folks also needs to keep in mind who pays the payments and who helps the staff. And from my viewpoint, we’re very fortunate to have that assist.

“It’s simple to all the time level the finger at someone who’s ‘meddling’, however generally it’s important to ask your self, effectively, why have they got to get entangled? Is it as a result of we’re not dealing with the stuff? Is it as a result of we actually have taken our eye off the ball? You will get pissed off at first, however you then step again and also you say, ‘Really, we most likely ought to have executed that higher, however we didn’t wish to hear that.’

“I don’t assume there’s any want to cover issues. I don’t assume there’s any must preserve them at arm’s size. I believe on the finish of the day we’ve got to work collectively. We’ve got to construct that belief. F1 is a fancy enterprise, as is the automotive world, and you may’t get it proper on a regular basis. I believe clearly what’s occurred earlier than – everybody has their views, their opinions.

“From my aspect, possibly issues are a bit totally different now. Perhaps Luca has extra direct contact with me and Flavio [Briatore, Alpine’s executive advisor since May 2024]. Perhaps the staff has needed to hit a little bit of all-time low to reset. I don’t know. On the finish of the day none of that’s stopping you from making a superb race automobile.”

Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524

Photograph by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Photos

Oakes is now tackling his first full season on the helm of the Alpine squad and could be forgiven for any sense of trepidation after the outfit modified staff principals in every of the final 4 years.

“Everyone says to me, do you are feeling it like a weight in your shoulders or a strain? And I actually see it in another way,” the Briton insisted. “There’s no grasp plan. There’s no stuff that’s been stated earlier than, ‘100 races’ and all that. We simply must get higher. We’ve got to be a well-run staff.

“And I believe we simply must concentrate on ourselves. And even with all the noise about the power unit and all of the discuss promoting and all that kind of garbage, I believe folks have already seen that we’re simply not likely going to be bothered by that anymore. We’re simply going to maintain our heads down.”