‘It wasn’t an easy decision’ – Alpine boss Oakes opens up on end of engine programme as he explains timeline for finding new supplier

Alpine boss Oliver Oakes has given an insight into the company’s decision to cease operations in their power unit department at Viry-Chatillon, as well as setting out a timeline in terms of finding a new engine supplier.

With Alpine’s F1 programme currently split across two factories – the chassis-focused division in Enstone in the UK, and the engine-focused division in Viry-Chatillon, France – it was confirmed at the end of September that Viry-Chatillon will no longer produce power units post-2025.

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Enstone will become the main base for Alpine’s Formula 1 activity, including a new engine supply arrangement – yet to be announced – for 2026. Viry-Chatillon, meanwhile, is set to become ‘Hypertech Alpine’.

During the United States Grand Prix weekend, Oakes – who joined the squad as Team Principal in August following the departure of Bruno Famin – was asked about the decision to close the engine programme, as well as being quizzed on what the timeline looks like for agreeing a deal with a new supplier.

“I think you saw with the announcement, it was a decision made at group level which I think had been going on for some time, before I joined the team,” Oakes explained.

“I think it wasn’t an easy decision, but I think the crux [is] of wanting the best engine in the car and evaluating what the best option is for the team.

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“That’s still ongoing, I’m pretty sure we’ll have some news before the end of the year to share with everybody. But at the moment that’s still an ongoing topic.”

Reflecting on his first few months in the job, the 36-year-old added: “It’s been good, it’s been intense, obviously [with] the run of races straight in after the shutdown, but it’s been really enjoyable. Obviously we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

Alpine currently sit in ninth place of the constructors’ standings on 13 points, four points adrift of Williams in eighth. While the team have five races remaining with their current pairing of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, 2025 will see reserve driver Jack Doohan step up to replace the Haas-bound Ocon.

The line-up of Gasly and Doohan is one that Oakes is excited about, with the Briton pointing to the mixture of “youth and experience” that it brings.

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“I think F1 in general at the moment, it’s really exciting all the young talent coming in,” said Oakes, who previously founded the Hitech Grand Prix team that competes in Formula 2 and Formula 3. “Obviously I’ve seen a lot of that through my other job before.

“In our case at Alpine, I feel like we’ve got a good line-up with Pierre staying on, Jack coming in as some fresh blood as well, and I’m looking forward to that because I think that is what’s exciting about F1 today, that mix of youth and experience and that will be really good to see.”