18: How Do You Make A Difference In F1?

James Allen On F1

Hello and welcome to the James Allen on F1 podcast, brought to you by Autosport.
This week we chat to F1’s youngest team principal, Oliver Oakes. The 37-year-old was parachuted into the Alpine team in August last year when they were struggling in 9th place in the Championship. They ended the season 6th.
Oli is the first to admit that there was a slice of luck involved, as the bulk of their points were scored with that amazing double podium in the wet in Brazil. But underneath that was an upward trend in car development and ultimately they deserved their finishing position.
So what happens next and is Oliver a mighty Oak? Is he the stabilising force that Alpine has been crying out for? And with rookie drivers making an astonishing 30% of the F1 field, we get Oliver’s take on why F1 is going for youth.
In the studio with James to discuss this are our International Editor Oleg Karpov and Marc Priestley, BBC Five Live commentator, podcaster and former McLaren F1 mechanic.
Send your comments or questions to: @jamesallenonf1 on X/Twitter or [email protected].
Producer: Dre Harrison
Executive Producer: Jason Swales
A Motorsport Studios production for Autosport