LONDON (AP) — Alpine announced Tuesday that Oliver Oakes resigned as team principal after less than a year in the role. The Formula 1 team is ninth in the constructors’ standings and reportedly was on the verge of replacing rookie driver Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto.

Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes leaves the team with immediate effect, less than a year after being appointed to the role.

British Formula One team principal Oliver Oakes has resigned as team principal of Alpine after just nine months in the role. Oakes, 37, was appointed in August to become the youngest team boss on the F1 grid. But his shock departure comes with rookie driver Jack Doohan widely expected to be replaced by Franco Colapinto after only six races.