'I was axed by Red Bull boss Helmut Marko - this is what he's really like behind scenes'

Having beaten Valtteri Bottas to a World Championship karting title as a junior, Oliver Oakes was being tipped for big things in the world of motorsport. For some time, it looked like he’d achieve his potential, with Oakes having been part of the Red Bull Junior Team. But now aged 37 years old - three years younger than compatriot Lewis Hamilton - the Brit’s career behind the wheel didn’t exactly go to plan.

That’s not to say he isn’t continuing to make an impact, with Oakes having been ushered in as the Team Alpine principal last year aged just 36, becoming the youngest Formula One head honcho on the grid. In the early stages of his tenure, Oakes helped deliver Team Enstone’s first double podium since 2013, when Esteban Ocon and France Pierre Gasly finished second and third at the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Things are looking good for Oakes, who is getting to pit his motorsport brain against the man who once axed him from the Red Bull programme.



.. Helmut Marko.

Speaking to the Beyond the Grid podcast, Oakes opened up on his relationship with Marko, which started when he was a youngster making a name for himself in the karting world. He said: “Well, what did Helmut say to me? I was ‘mega in karting, but it didn’t translate to cars.’ So maybe I’m a case in point.

” He then added: “No, I think it is [a good barometer]. At the end of the day, if I really want to be critical to my own career, I had a really good first year from karting to cars. “After I won the [karting] worlds, I did the Red Bull sort of shootout.

I joined them, I think I was in the Red Bull Academy for two years, [drove in] Formula BMW, Formula Renault." On his eventual axing, he explained: “I had a tough season in my second year in Formula Renault Eurocup, and then I guess after that was sort of where it gets difficult, because I then was sort of dropped by Helmut.” Oakes does believe the Red Bull advisor has “softened” up since his first encounter, stating: “It’s slightly odd that I was a junior driver with him, then he sort of asked me to go and help him scout some young talents, and then some of them would drive in my [kating] team.

“And then now, I dare say, he’s given me some good advice. I’d say he’s got a bit softer – he might hate me saying that publicly – but Helmut was always, I’d say, hard but fair.” Anticipation ahead of the new 2025 Formula One season is building, with the first race weekend coming from Australia in mid-March.

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