Alpine reveal crucial F1 advantage with controversial Briatore hire

New Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes has described working with Flavio Briatore as "intense" but has quickly realised why the former boss has been hired.

Briatore, who was the managing director of Benetton in the 1990s and team principal of Renault from 2000 to 2009, returned to Enstone as executive advisor in June, shortly before Oakes' appointment.

With a 38-year difference between the two, the dynamic is unusual in F1, albeit one designed by Renault CEO Luca Di Meo to propel the stalling team up the grid.

Oakes, the second youngest team principal in F1 history, has naturally conceded to being aware of Briatore prior to his arrival, albeit adding, "I wouldn't say super well, because a different generation - in a nice way - of racing."

As to what he feels Briatore has brought to the party over the past few years, Oakes was complimentary.

"He was a winner in F1, he's successful with his businesses out of F1 so you very quickly know he's somebody who's committed, who's pushing, and I wouldn't say doesn't accept a compromise, but you've got to be on it," said Oakes, in an interview with RacingNews365.

"For me, I like that. At the end of the day, day-to-day working with him is intense, but it's good because I've got someone there who thinks the same, who challenges ideas.

"He brings a lot more than people realise, purely because he's got so much vested interest in Enstone, and it's great for me because you've always got someone by your side, helping you, I wouldn't say, fight battles, but just pushing things along with you, which I think is important.

"I've said it before, but in great sports organisations, you need all the leadership aligned and working together. Time will tell, but I think that will be a big advantage over the next one, two years together."

Briatore 'says what he thinks'

Although Briatore is 74, Oakes is under no illusion that the Italian is "on it", and is more than just an advisor.

"He wants to know, straight after FP1, how was the car," said Oakes. "He's watching from home, even if he's not there [at the track]. And I'd say he's one, two days a week at Enstone, checking in on things.

"So the dynamic is pretty much we're there together, and I think that's how it should be because you can't be someone who dips in and out or tries to pop in one day a month. That's not going to work.

"I think I'm very fortunate that he's giving up that time to support me and also pushing the team forward."

That dynamic could lend itself to the question of who is in charge, given the decades of difference in terms of their experience in F1.

Clarifying the situation, Oakes said: "I guess the remit is I'm leading it, but we're aligned on everything we're doing.

"I think anyone who knows Flav knows he says what he thinks, which is good, and I think we're both very open on that."