The summer break has brought the calendar to a halt, but not the headlines. Over the break, we have heard news of changes in driver contracts and exciting team principal announcements.
Oliver Oakes was announced as the team boss for Alpine
At age 36, Oliver Oakes will become the second youngest team boss in Formula One history.
Oakes is no stranger to motorsport. The Briton has had a racing career of his own, winning two British Open wheel races and starting his racing team, Team Oakes Racing, in 2011.
Andy Cowell, former Managing Director at Mercedes, will join Aston Martin as Chief Executive Officer
Cowell started at Mercedes in 2004 and worked as the principal engineer from 2008 to 2013. He later became the managing director for the team in 2013, working on the successful V6 engine that won seven driver championships and eight constructor championships. In October, he will be joining Aston Martin.
In a press statement from Aston Martin through their website, Andy Cowell said:
“I am thrilled to join Lawrence’s exciting project and look forward to working with the talented group of people that has been assembled. F1 has always been my competitive passion, and I am joining Aston Martin Aramco at an exciting time with the imminent completion of the AMR Technology Campus and our transition in 2026 to a full works team with our strategic partners Honda and Aramco.”
Andrea Stella extends his contract with McLaren
It was announced this week that Andrea Stella has announced his contract with the team. Stella joined the Woking-based team in 2015 and was promoted to the role of team principal in 2022.
The exact terms of his contract have yet to be announced.
Drivers without 2025 contracts
After many months of speculation, Carlos Sainz has announced that he will be joining Williams Racing during the 2025 season.
Drivers that remain without a seat for next year are Valtteri Bottas (Kick Sauber), Zhou Guanyu (Kick Sauber), Logan Sargent (Williams), Daniel Riccardo (Visa Cash App RB), and Kevin Magnussen (Haas).
Williams Team Principal alludes to the mid-season driver change
The team principal of Williams Racing, James Vowels, spoke with the press ahead of the Silverstone Grand Prix when he gave an update on the contract of driver Logan Sargent. When questioned about the extension of Sargeant’s contract, Vowels told SkySportsF1.
“Logan all the way through has been provided [with] the opportunity to retain his seat—that’s in his control,” Vowles told Sky Sports F1. “I need performance that’s at Alex’s level; I need him to be there day in and day out, fundamentally… There will be a line in the sand where we have to make a decision, and at that point, both for 2025 and maybe for something this year, we’ll make a decision on it. But we’re not there today.”
Formula One resumes racing in the Netherlands on August 23 for the Dutch Grand Prix