Alpine F1: Internal Turmoil and Unusual Strategy Mid-Season

Just six races into the 2025 Formula 1 season, Alpine has already undergone two major upheavals: the dismissal of driver Jack Doohan and the unexpected resignation of team principal Oliver Oakes. These events have raised serious questions—Is Alpine in crisis?

Oakes resigned only hours before the team confirmed Franco Colapinto would replace Doohan for the upcoming Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, leading many to suspect something unusual was happening behind the scenes. While both Oakes and Alpine executive director Flavio Briatore claimed the resignation was for personal reasons and unrelated to the driver switch, the timing has left many unconvinced.

What further puzzled the F1 world was Alpine’s decision to frame the change as a “rotation,” with Colapinto only confirmed for five races. Such short-term driver deals are almost unheard of in modern Formula 1, and the team’s decision to publicize the temporary nature of the arrangement raised eyebrows. According to Alpine, this is part of a strategy to assess their young driver pool ahead of the significant regulation changes in 2026, which they hope will allow them to move up the grid.

However, many believe the move is financially driven. Colapinto, who impressed during a nine-race stint with Williams, brought with him strong financial backing and popularity in his native Argentina. Briatore reportedly paid €4.5 million to secure Colapinto on a five-year loan from Williams. The short-term deal is likely a way to attract sponsors and recover some of that investment.

As for Doohan, his F1 future now appears uncertain. Despite flashes of speed, his rookie season was marred by two major crashes and a retirement in Miami. Though Alpine labeled the change as a “rotation,” many see it as a polite way of easing Doohan out. With Paul Aron also in the reserve driver lineup and having completed several tests, the chances of Doohan returning seem slim unless Colapinto underperforms.

Beyond the driver situation, questions are being asked about Alpine’s broader strategy. The team has seen four team principals depart since 2021 and famously mishandled driver contracts that led to the loss of Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri. Despite this instability, Alpine attracted €200 million in investment from celebrities and athletes, but with Renault stepping away from engine manufacturing after 2025, the team’s long-term vision remains unclear.

Some analysts, like Sky Sports’ Karun Chandhok, speculate that Alpine might be positioning itself for a future sale, capitalizing on F1’s booming valuation. “If they’re playing the valuation game, why not sell now?” he questioned, reflecting the confusion surrounding Alpine’s current decisions.

In the midst of these internal shakeups and strategic ambiguity, Alpine desperately needs to stabilize. Without clear direction and consistent leadership, the team risks falling further behind in the hyper-competitive world of Formula 1.