’It’s always been about racing, I don’t know anything else’ – F1's newest team boss Oli Oakes on getting Alpine back on track


Not long after Oli Oakes was announced as Alpine’s new Team Principal – and the second youngest team boss in Formula 1 history – he had a call from rival and Mercedes chief Toto Wolff to congratulate him.
“Toto said something quite funny,” says Oakes. “He said ‘it’s good to have some young blood [among] us dinosaurs!’ I was laughing away, it was nice of him to be so welcoming. People at home don’t often get to see that part of F1 – how close people are, how so many people have come up through the ranks together in different ways. I think it’s quite cool.”
Next Up
Related Articles
McLaren explain what ‘caught us by surprise’ in Malaysia
Audi reveal new Formula 1 campus plans in Hinwil
Drivers reflect on the key challenge they expect in Sepang
UnlockedAll the stories that got the Malaysia paddock talking
Alonso explains decision to stay with Aston Martin for 2027
Mercedes suffer one of the ‘toughest Fridays’ of the season
