Ahead of the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix race, the upheaval at Alpine continues.
Alpine team principal Bruno Famin will depart his position. However, the Frenchman will remain his role at VP of Motorsports within the organisation.
At the Belgian Grand Prix last year, Alpine announced that team principal Otmar Szafnauer, sporting director Alan Permane and CTO Pat Fry were leaving the team. Since then, Fry has moved to Williams, with Permane joining Racing Bulls.
In recent weeks, there has been discussions about Alpine teaming up with Mercedes regarding engines and other F1 parts from 2026. Their own engine has been been underperforming significantly this year, lacking power compared to Mercedes, Ferrari and Honda.
Famin confirmed at Spa on Friday that they will be becoming a customer team from 2026, with the announcement of taking Mercedes engines expected to be announced in the near future.
Former Renault team principal Flavio Briatore, who helped the Enstone-based team win four Drivers’ Championships with Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso, has been making his own mark since returning to the fold last month in an executive advisor role.
During the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, it was revealed he had spoken with Carlos Sainz Sr. as they want to sign 3-time F1 race winner Carlos Sainz Jr. The 29-year-old remains undecided on where he will drive with 2025, with multiple teams continuing to hold an interest in the current Ferrari driver.
Who replaces Famin as team boss at Alpine remains unknown at the present time, although Hitech’s Oliver Oakes is expected to take the position. He has been the director and team principal for the team since founding it in 2015.
The Brit is 36 years of age and was World Karting Champion in 2005. At one stage he was part of the Red Bull Junior Academy as well.
