The BWT Alpine Team
What's Going on at the Formula 1 team.
INTRODUCTION:
The BWT Alpine Renault team, formerly known as Renault, has been operating in Formula 1 since 1977 and has achieved many successes, such as the WDC in 1994, 1995, 2005, and 2006. The Team no longer operates as Renault but still uses Renault as their engine supplier.
BRIEF HISTORY:
The team has also been a stepping stone to success for numerous drivers, such as Carlos Sainz (Renault), Oscar Piastri (Academy team), Esteban Ocon, Daniel Ricciardo, and Fernando Alonso, who have all moved on to other teams or retired from racing. Furthermore, to continue fostering young talents, it was announced ahead of the 2025 season that, together with their 2 main drivers (Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan), they will also have 4 other reserve drivers, which raises the question of why and how they plan to make use of the drivers.
THE 2025 SWAPS:
We are now 6 races into the 2025 season, and one of those questions are about to be answered, it was announced on Wednesday that Alpine was dropping the new rookie Jack Doohan for their reserve driver Franco Colapinto following a series of slightly disappointing results with 2 DNFs and only being able to finish in the 13th position and not gathering any points in the team. Franco had gained prior experience in F1 when he drove for Williams last season in place of Logan Sargeant, where he gained 5 points and 3 DNFs. Fanco replaces Doohan in Alpine.
Whilst the margin between them isn’t that much, results do show that Colapinto is a considerably better choice for Alpine. The promotion, however, is not permanent as he will be placed on a trial period as he is only going to drive with them for 5 races, then a decision of whether he will remain there or not will be made.
The news of the Alpine driver change came a not less than 12 hours after it was announced that their team principal, Oliver Oakes, was stepping down, which would make it the 3rd principal change made in the team within the last 3 years. Oliver Oakes had taken over from Bruno Famin in the middle of the 2024 season after he resigned, not up to a year after taking over from Otmar Szafnauer, who was replaced in 2023. It’s no secret that the team may have some issues in maintaining proper leadership, given where they are now as a team. Oliver Oakes' Resignation.
There is a bit of speculation as to why Oliver decided to resign now, although not related, reports show that his brother William Oakes was arrested on Thursday in the UK for transferring criminal property. William Oakes' Arrest.
WHO IS FLAVIO BRIATORE:
With resignations come new leadership, as former Renault team Principal Flavio Briatore (2002-2009) makes a comeback in the F1 scene after his lifetime ban, taking over the duties of team principal from Oliver Oakes. Flavio was banned from F1 in 2009 after a crashgate scandal at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. To secure victory, the Renault team principal devised a plan where one of his drivers would deliberately crash to bring out a safety car and use it to their advantage. Crashgate Briatore, this was revealed by Piquet Jr shortly after he left the team. The team principal then received a lifetime ban from F1 in 2009, which was overturned by a French court in 2013 on appeal.
The Imola Grand Prix comes up on the 18th of May and would be our first chance to see how the changes in the team can affect their current position, as the team is currently sitting in 9th place in the team standings.