In a shocking turn of events within the world of Formula 1, Oliver Oakes has resigned as the team principal of Alpine F1 just days after his brother, William Oakes, was arrested on charges of transferring criminal property. The arrest took place in the Silverstone Park area, close to the iconic Silverstone Circuit, where William was found in possession of a significant amount of cash.
William Oakes, 31, was arrested on Thursday, May 1, 2025, and subsequently charged the following day, May 2. He appeared before Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, May 3, where he was remanded in custody. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that William was charged with transferring criminal property after being stopped in Silverstone Park.
Oliver Oakes’ resignation from Alpine was announced on Tuesday night, May 6, 2025, mere days after his brother's arrest. This sudden move has raised eyebrows in the F1 community, particularly as it coincided with Alpine's decision to change their driver lineup, replacing rookie Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto for at least the next five races. This decision reportedly stemmed from disagreements between Oakes and Alpine's executive director, Flavio Briatore, although Briatore has publicly denied any rift, stating, "Me and Oli have a very good relationship and had long-term ambitions to drive this team forward together. We respect Oli’s request to resign and have therefore accepted his resignation. The reasons are not related to the team and are of a personal nature."
Oakes, who joined Alpine from Hitech Grand Prix last summer, has not been accused of any wrongdoing related to his brother's arrest. However, the timing of his resignation has led to speculation about the potential impact of the family situation on his professional role. Following the Miami Grand Prix, Oakes reportedly flew to Dubai, and his current whereabouts remain unknown.
The Oakes brothers are co-directors of Hitech Grand Prix, a racing team that competes in various junior categories, including Formula 2 and Formula 3. Hitech Grand Prix has been a topic of discussion in recent years, especially regarding its ownership. Until just nine days before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the team was 75% owned by Russian oligarch Dmitry Mazepin, father of ex-F1 driver Nikita Mazepin. Oliver Oakes took full ownership of Hitech Grand Prix shortly before the invasion, forming a new company, Hitech Global Holdings Ltd, on March 11, 2022, to acquire control of the shares from Mazepin's Cyprus-based company, Bergton Management Ltd. This acquisition occurred just three days after the Mazepins were sanctioned by both the UK government and the European Union.
Despite the controversies surrounding the team, Hitech Grand Prix has continued to operate and even sought to join the F1 grid in 2026, although this bid has yet to be successful. The team has received investment from Kazakhstan’s richest man, Vladimir Kim, who acquired a 25% share in Hitech Global Holdings.
William Oakes’ arrest and the subsequent events have cast a shadow over the Oakes family's involvement in the world of motorsport. The implications of these developments for both Hitech Grand Prix and Alpine are still unfolding, as the racing community watches closely.
As for Oliver Oakes, his departure from Alpine marks a significant moment in his career, having only recently taken the reins at the team. His leadership led Alpine to a sixth-place finish in the constructors’ championship in his first season, but the personal circumstances surrounding his resignation have overshadowed these achievements.
In a statement attributed to Oakes, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the team, stating, "It’s been a privilege to lead everyone at Enstone, what a team, what a place. It is a personal decision for me to step down. Flavio has been like a father to me, nothing but supportive since I took the role, as well as giving me the opportunity. Everyone is in place for 2026 and where this dream deserves to be. I believe in Enstone."
With the situation still developing, the motorsport world is left to ponder the future of both the Oakes brothers and the teams they represent. The fallout from these events will likely have lasting implications as the F1 season progresses.
