Oliver Oakes was keen to provide details regarding the restructuring of the Alpine F1 factory in Viry-Châtillon. The Enstone team principal has assured that there will be no layoffs per se, despite what has been said.
The Briton advocates misunderstanding, and accuses certain departments of the team of having lacked performance… while the few shortcomings mainly came from a much leaner budget than that of other engine manufacturers.
He therefore wanted to be reassuring about the future of the French factory, or at least the jobs it houses, despite the end of the Formula 1 engine program so that the team becomes Mercedes customer in 2026.
“I would say there’s a bit of confusion, I guess that’s the right word to use, because some messages have been taken out of context.” Oakes said. “For example, we didn’t lay off anyone, we reduced a few areas where you could say were underperforming.”
“You could say we needed a personnel change in those areas, but actually the team in general, the people, the type of approach they take, they’re all competitors. Enstone has some something special, and those who are here care very much about it.”
“That was probably one of the first things I realized when I took over, coming in while the stable was closed and seeing who is allowed to work on the infrastructure, how much they are committed.”
“Of course, some of the decisions that have been made this year are not easy to make. The Viry issue is very personal for the team and for many people, because it is a very beautiful story factory team But times are changing too.”
“I think we have to be honest, and I think the analysis was done before I started and [au] board level so that the decision to become a client team is in the best interest of the team.”
“I know it was a difficult decision to make. I know there is a lot of emotion, because we are proud to be a factory team, and we still have another year to spend together. But I think it was also a big statement of intent, really, about where we want to go.”
“We’re not here to make numbers, we want to move forward, and I think I was quite open – maybe too honest – when I said, being selfish, that I just wanted to the best engine in the back of the car.”
“At the end of the day, for me, we are here to race. I want to be at the front of the grid, I don’t want to end up at the back and, cruelly, the choice we made has was to put the best engine in the back of the car and help the team continue to move up the grid.”
The Briton recognizes that the choice to become a Mercedes customer is not a guarantee of success, but he thinks it is a better choice than continuing to be an engine manufacturer: “I think you can’t be absolutely sure, because nothing is sure in life, but I think you have to be pragmatic.”
“I don’t know all the ins and outs of the decision, because it was made a little bit before I started, but if I had to think about it, I would probably say that history shows that every time ‘there was a change in regulations, they were strong.’
“I think you can see right now that the engine has been fighting for the title, so I think there are a few things that allow you, if I want to make a pragmatic choice, to say that this is the right choice .”
He points out that he was not behind the idea of parting ways with Viry, but Oakes explains why Mercedes was an obvious choice: “I’m kind of speaking second-hand, because most of it happened before I started.”
“I took office at the end of July, and I think the subject was first raised a month or two before. I believe Flavio told the press ‘we are talking and we are investigating’. And I think that ‘They had other discussions.’
“I don’t know exactly with whom, but I think very early on it was clear that, at the moment, from a customer powertrain perspective, Mercedes was the obvious choice – simply too, because Aston was already passing at the Honda, so there was almost a free place at that level.”
