By Joe Man
Jack Doohan’s Formula 1 debut season has been—let’s be honest—a bit like trying to swim with bricks tied to your feet. And if the rumour mill is even half right, his time on the grid might be shorter than a Red Bull drivers.
Of course, every F1 driver is an incredible athlete, and we shouldn’t trash anyone who makes it even this far. But this is F1—the shark tank of motorsport. It’s 20 seats, filled with the fastest humans on four wheels, and about a thousand others circling like vultures, waiting for someone to blink. The special ones don’t just drive fast—they make magic happen. The rest? Well… they drive fast too. Just maybe into the barriers.
It’s tough being a rookie. F1 doesn’t give out warm welcomes or learning curves—it’s more like being pushed into the deep end while wearing cement boots. Sure, if you’re lucky, you get a nice little contract and a back marker car where no one expects anything. Just ask Gabriel Bortoleto, who’s pottering around in a car that struggles to overtake a lawnmower. But when you’re Jack Doohan or Liam Lawson, there’s no such luxury. There’s a countdown clock, and it’s ticking louder than a Ferrari strategy meeting.
Doohan looked doomed from day one. Just before the season began, Alpine wheeled in Franco Colapinto like a surprise guest on a reality show—“You’re not safe, Jack!” To make things worse, Flavio Briatore (yes, that Flavio) came back from the 2000s just to let us know he wasn’t exactly Jack’s biggest fan. Not exactly a warm hug of reassurance.
Alpine being Alpine, the whole situation is messier than a wet race in Singapore. So far, Doohan’s best finish in six races is 14th. Yes, the car is mediocre, but his teammate Pierre Gasly has managed to drag it into the points and make it look semi-respectable.
And just to twist the knife, let’s remember he’s only in the car because Alpine randomly booted Esteban Ocon—who’s now doing a great job over at Haas, of all places. You know something’s off when Haas looks like the better move. Truth be told, Jack Doohan was an odd pick from the start. He was the reserve driver, and when Ocon bailed, Alpine seemed to go, “Eh, he’s already got the uniform.” His junior career? Decent, but not dazzling. He’s won a few races, but never a championship since his karting days in Australia. Talented? Sure. F1-level? Questionable.
If Alpine does pull the plug, Colapinto is waiting in the wings—probably already measuring the seat. Ironically, his CV isn’t that different. No major championships apart from Spanish F4, which is sort of the “participation trophy” of junior series. But when he got a go in a Williams last year, he was immediately fast… and immediately in the wall. Speed? Yes. Control? TBA. Penalties and crashes? Oh, plenty. Like a bull in a carbon-fibre china shop.
So is he really Alpine’s solution? There are grown-ups out there like Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez—guys who could actually help develop the car without turning every practice session into an audition for “Drive to Survive.” And with Alpine switching to Mercedes power in 2026, it’s about to become a much more attractive seat. You’d think they’d want someone with, you know, experience. Or a steering wheel licence.
Then again, Colapinto brings a lot of financial backing, which always seems to turn heads faster than a purple sector. Meanwhile, guys like Felipe Drugovich, Théo Pourchaire, and even poor Mick Schumacher (yes, he’s still around) can’t get a mention.
Doohan desperately needs to string together some clean, quiet weekends—but there’s always something. A lock-up here, a tangle there, a bit of carbon fibre flying through the air. Sound familiar? It’s like the Liam Lawson sequel nobody asked for.
It’s a brutal business. One slip, and you’re out. There are no second chances—this isn’t American Idol. For drivers like Jack, once the curtain falls, it’s lights out and not in a good way.
Then, on Wednesday morning, the update was posted.
Alpine F1 Team Principal Oliver Oakes Resigns; Jack Doohan Officially Replaced by Franco Colapinto.
It’s been a truly wild 24 hours at Alpine, and the team’s descent into disarray continues. At the center of it all is Flavio Briatore, who appears to have the full backing of the team’s owners.
It seems like a reckless move to support Briatore, a man whose career has been surrounded by scandal. In Oliver Oakes, Alpine had someone akin to James Vowles—a young, modern leader with a sharp racing mind, capable of building a winning team. But like his predecessors Bruno Famin and Otmar Szafnauer, he’s been shown the door in no time.
The catalyst appears to be the decision to replace Jack Doohan, a move Oakes reportedly opposed. Overruled and undermined, it’s no surprise he chose to walk immediately.
Alpine now finds itself led by what many would call an old-school F1 dinosaur, and this may well open the floodgates for more key departures. Pierre Gasly, for one, must be extremely frustrated and likely weighing up his options. He’s performing at an elite level, and it’s safe to assume his management is already in contact with other teams. Wouldn’t a return to Red Bull make sense?
The decision not to formally drop Doohan, but to instead give Franco Colapinto six races, is frankly bizarre. If you’re going to make a change, back Colapinto for the rest of the season. Instead, he now faces the pressure of having to prove himself immediately. And if he doesn’t deliver, what then? Bring back Doohan, who already showed he wasn’t at the level required?
Like all teams out of championship contention, Alpine should be focused on preparing for 2026. A Mercedes engine is on the way, which could be a major boost. Yet, more team members are leaving by the day. After the turmoil of the past few years, one has to wonder who’s even left.
Losing Gasly could be the final straw—signaling the true collapse of Alpine. They would head into the new regulations with Colapinto, Doohan, and a completely unpredictable figure running the show.
Talents like Oliver Oakes—an exceptional racing brain—will be snapped up elsewhere. And let’s not forget the ghosts of Esteban Ocon, Fernando Alonso, and current championship leader Oscar Piastri, all lost to appalling management decisions.
Do us a favor, Alpine: sell the team to someone who can restore dignity and direction. This is becoming an embarrassment to the sport.
WHEEL2WHEEL REPORTS 