Alpine: No link between Oakes’ exit and brother’s shock arrest

William Oakes, director of prominent F2 team Hitech Grand Prix and brother of former Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes, was arrested in the UK last week and charged with transferring criminal property, according to a report from The Telegraph.

The 37-year-old was apprehended at Silverstone Park by the Metropolitan Police in possession of what authorities described as “a large amount of cash.”

The arrest, which unfolded in the heart of British motorsport territory, sent shockwaves through the racing community, raising questions about the nature of the charges and their potential implications.

William Oakes was subsequently charged with transferring criminal property, a serious offense under UK law. Following his arrest, he appeared before Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, May 3, where he was remanded in custody pending further legal proceedings.

The Metropolitan Police, speaking to The Telegraph, confirmed the details of the arrest but provided no additional information about the origins of the cash or the circumstances leading to Oakes’ detention.

• Read also: Briatore sets record straight on Oakes’ Alpine departure

The lack of clarity has fueled speculation, though no concrete evidence has emerged to link the incident to broader criminal activities.

As a director of Hitech Grand Prix, Oakes has been a significant figure in the Formula 2 scene since 2022, when he spearheaded a new company that acquired a controlling stake in the team.

The acquisition was notable for its timing, coming just three days after the UK government imposed sanctions on the team’s former majority shareholder, Dmitry Mazepin, a Russian businessman with close ties to Vladimir Putin.

Mazepin, the father of former F1 driver Nikita Mazepin, was targeted due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the swift transfer of his shares to Oakes’ company raised eyebrows in the motorsport and geopolitical spheres.

Since then, William has worked to establish Hitech Grand Prix as a competitive force in junior racing, leveraging his business acumen and passion for the sport.

Alpine’s Unrelated Turmoil

Less than a week after William’s arrest, the motorsport world was rocked by another development: Oliver Oakes, William’s younger brother, announced his resignation as team principal of the Alpine Formula 1 team.

The timing of the two events has sparked widespread speculation about a possible connection, particularly given the high-profile nature of both events.

However, according to a report from Motorsport.com, Oliver Oakes’ resignation on Tuesday was not linked to his brother’s legal troubles. But there's no denying that, as a founder of Hightech Grand Prix and as an executive member of the company in 2022, the former Alpine team boss could not have not know about Mazepin relinquishing his shares to Williams Oakes.

The former Alpine team boss allegedly flew to Dubai following last weekend's Miami Grand Prix.

As for Alpine, which has faced its share of challenges in recent years, including inconsistent performance on the track and leadership changes off it, the French outfit has so far officially remained silent on William Oakes’ arrest.

The team’s focus is on navigating the transition following Oliver’s exit and maintaining stability.

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