P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Alpine boss Oliver Oakes has hailed the support that parent company Renault brings to the F1 team amid criticism from one of his predecessors.
Since Renault reclaimed its Enstone F1 outfit in 2016, it has undergone various phases of revival with plans for success. The rebranding into Alpine included a 100-race target initiated by former CEO Laurent Rossi, which Otmar Szafanuer was tasked to achieve when he became Team Principal in 2022. Szafanuer’s tenure ended in 2023, as Renault Group’s CEO became dissatisfied with the team’s performance. Despite Bruno Famin taking over, Alpine struggled at the start of 2024, but changes in the technical team and management brought improvements. The new Team Principal, Oakes, has a positive relationship with Renault’s management and aims to work collaboratively for success, expressing confidence in the team’s potential and the support received. Oakes, the youngest team boss on the F1 grid at 37, led Alpine to a late-season turnaround in the previous year, including a memorable double podium in Sao Paulo, setting high expectations for continued improvement in the upcoming season.
