The Alpine team is going through turbulent times off the track. The recent confirmation of Argentine driver Franco Colapinto as a starter for the upcoming Formula 1 race in Imola not only marks a major step in the young driver's career, but also exposes serious internal tensions between two key figures: Flavio Briatore and Oliver Oakes.

Although Colapinto’s arrival to a main seat had been expected for weeks, the background of this decision reveals deep-rooted disagreements. According to former Formula 2 driver Facundo Regalia, who is familiar with the paddock dynamics, Colapinto's promotion had already been decided before the Zandvoort test, though it was kept strictly under wraps. "They had been preparing it quietly for some time," he stated in a live conversation with Spanish journalists.

Clash of Titans: Briatore vs Oakes

The conflict, as Regalia explained, escalated over time. The differences between Briatore and Oakes regarding Colapinto’s future were deep and long-standing. “There were a lot of internal discussions. Some supported Franco’s promotion, others didn’t. Among them was Oakes, who, due to this disagreement—and other pre-existing ones with Briatore—decided to step down,” said the Argentine.

Although Alpine cited “personal reasons” for Oakes’ departure, sources suggest his resignation was closely linked to being sidelined in the decision-making process regarding the drivers. A key factor was his unwavering support for Jack Doohan, despite the Australian’s underwhelming performance. In seven Grand Prix starts, Doohan failed to score any points and only once outqualified his teammate Pierre Gasly. His track mistakes, penalties, and inconsistency ultimately worked against him.

Meanwhile, Colapinto steadily earned his place within the team through consistent performance in tests. He outperformed fellow reserve driver Paul Aron in every session and played a key role in the car’s development through his work in the simulator—especially before the Bahrain Grand Prix, where Gasly managed to score points.

Reportedly, Briatore was the driving force behind bringing the Argentine to Alpine, even investing around $20 million to secure his transfer from Williams on a five-year deal. With strong financial backing, promising results, and an internal power shift working in his favor, Franco Colapinto is now poised to make his mark in Formula 1.