Fresh twist in Oliver Oakes' sudden Alpine exit as brother charged and remanded
Updated . First published at
The sudden timing of Oliver Oakes' resignation as team principal at Alpine has taken on new meaning with his brother and business partner, William, arrested by UK police days before.
The team announced on Wednesday morning that Oakes would depart effective immediately. Ultimately, this was days after William was arrested and charged with "transferring criminal property".
The specific nature of the alleged property and where it originated have not been publicly disclosed.
READ MORE: Mick Doohan's swipe at F1 team after son brutally axed
READ MORE: Port chief reveals big 'issue' with Rioli 'pile on'
READ MORE: Mad Dog millionaire: Athletes who made bank after retiring
Oliver Oakes speaks with Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore in the team's hospitality suite during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Kym Illman via Getty Images
In a report by the UK Telegraph, William was stopped in Silverstone Park, near Silverstone Circuit in England last Thursday. He was said to be in possession of "a large amount of cash".
The next day, William was charged with transferring criminal property before he was remanded in custody after appearing before the Northampton Magistrates Court on Saturday.
William and Oliver are co-directors of Hitech Grand Prix, a motor racing team which competes in Formula 2, Formula 3 and other junior formula racing championships.
Hitch Grand Prix and its owner, Hitech Global Holdings, are both registered in Silverstone Park.
Oakes' resignation was believed to have stemmed from a falling out with executive director Flavio Briatore over Australian Jack Doohan's then-rumoured sacking.
Hours later, the team confirmed that Doohan had been "rotated" out of his seat for the next five grand prix weekends, with Franco Colapinto to take his place.
Pierre Gasly driving the Alpine A525 during the Miami Grand Prix. Clive Rose via Getty Images
But Briatore denied suggestions that Oakes' resignation was because of a "disagreement" between the pair.
"Me and Oli [Oakes] have a very good relationship and had long-term ambitions to drive this team forward together," he wrote in an Instagram post, which had Alpine as a collaborator.
"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."
Briatore's post also included a brief and oddly worded statement from Oakes himself.
"It is a personal decision for me to step down," it read.
"Flavio has been like a father to me, nothing but supportive since I took the role, as well as giving me the opportunity."
Oakes reportedly flew to Dubai after last weekend's Miami Grand Prix.
There are suggestions and speculation linking Williams' arrest to Dmitry Mazepin — ex-Formula 1 driver Nikita Mazepin's father — because of historical financial ties connecting Hitech Grand Prix and Mazepin. However, this has not been confirmed.
A Russian oligarch and known associate of Vladimir Putin, Mazepin was subsequently sanctioned in both the UK and the European Union.
Until February 2022, Mazepin held a 75 per cent stake in Hitech Grand Prix. This ownership was through Mazepin's Cyprus-based investment company, Bergton Management Limited.
Days before, when Russia invaded Ukraine, Bergton Management relinquished its shares in Hitech to Oakes, who became the sole shareholder.
The timing of the transfer of ownership raised eyebrows within the media and F1 community, and questions were asked in the UK Parliament about its nature, with concerns raised about potential sanctions evasion.
Sanctioned Russian oligarch Dmitry Mazepin. Mikhail Svetlov via Getty Images
It was alleged that Oakes is acting as a proxy to allow Mazepin to maintain an indirect influence in motorsport.
There has also been speculation that Mazepin might be secretly funding Hitech's efforts to join F1 after the team's unsuccessful bid for entry in 2026.
Mazepin made a surprise appearance in the F1 paddock during pre-season testing in Bahrain in March. He was spotted in the Alpine garage.
Neither the FIA nor F1 was able to confirm who allowed Mazepin to attend. Alpine also denied facilitating his access.
When questioned about this, Oakes acknowledged knowing Mazepin and their past association through Hitech.
"Yes, he's a friend of mine. Yes, I used to be together with him in Hitech," he told ESPN.
"He was here catching up with another friend of his. It's nice to see him.
"I'm not going to go into that. The world's a crazy place."
