faced with virulent criticism of Alpine, Oliver Oakes comes out of silence

After making the decision to take a Mercedes engine, Alpine F1 is at the heart of criticism. Olivier Oakes justifies this decision.

Alpine F1 Team's choice to abandon the Renault engine in favor of that of Mercedes has sparked a major controversy within the group. The decision, made official during the previous season, marks a turning point for the French team, which renounces its status as a factory team to become a customer team. This transition involves a significant reorientation of the team's activities, with a refocusing on the British facilities at Enstone, to the detriment of the historic Viry-Châtillon site.

A difficult but necessary decision according to Oliver Oakes

Promoted to team director in 2024, Oliver Oakes, whose character is strong, justified this strategic decision during the Beyond The Grid podcast. Acknowledging the emotions and heavy implications of this transition, he stressed that this choice was aimed at ensuring a more successful future for Alpine: “Times are changing and you cannot rest on your laurels. […] We have to be honest, the decision to become a client team was in the best interest of the team. »

According to Oakes, opting for Mercedes is part of a search for performance and innovation, particularly in the context of the regulatory changes coming in 2026. Mercedes has historically been able to take advantage of these upheavals, as Oakes points out: “ History shows that every time there has been a change in regulations, they [Mercedes] were strong. »

Alpine F1's future on hold

The cessation of production of Renault engines will have significant consequences for Viry-Châtillon, which has been a pillar of Renault's F1 engine program for decades. This choice also calls into question Alpine's identity as a factory team, a historic point of pride for the team.

With this bold bet, Alpine is banking on the competitiveness and reliability of the Mercedes engine to reposition itself at the head of the peloton. But this transition carries risks, notably that of depending on an external supplier, thus limiting a certain strategic autonomy. The future and the results of the nine seasons will determine whether this choice was wise or whether it will mark a step backwards in the history of the French team.