Doohan on Alpine demotion: ‘It’s a tough one to take’

Jack Doohan has openly shared the emotional weight of his demotion from Alpine’s Formula 1 race seat, with reserve driver Franco Colapinto stepping in for the next five races, starting at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

The decision, announced just six races into the 2025 season, follows a challenging period for the 22-year-old Australian, who will now return to reserve duties.

The move comes amid a significant management change at Alpine, with team principal Oliver Oakes resigning and executive advisor Flavio Briatore assuming leadership responsibilities.

Doohan’s short-lived stint as a full-time driver saw promise in qualifying pace, including outqualifying teammate Pierre Gasly in Miami.

However, a string of misfortunes and on-track incidents – most recently a Turn 1 collision in Miami that ended his race – ultimately compelled Alpine to make a change after just six rounds.

Doohan Reflects on Setback and Future Commitment

In a statement released by the team, Doohan expressed both pride and disappointment over the recent developments in his F1 journey:

"I am very proud to have achieved my lifelong ambition to be a professional Formula 1 driver, and I will forever be grateful to the team for helping me achieve this dream," Doohan stated.

"Obviously, this latest chapter is a tough one for me to take because, as a professional driver, naturally I want to be racing.

"That said, I appreciate the team’s trust and commitment. We have long-term goals as a team to achieve, and I will continue to give my maximum efforts in any way I can to help achieve those.

“For now, I will keep my head down, keep working hard, watch with interest the next five races and keep chasing my own personal goals."

Doohan will now resume his previous duties as Alpine’s reserve driver while Colapinto is evaluated over the next five rounds, through to the Austrian Grand Prix.

The Argentine’s promotion also comes during a time of transition for the team, following team principal Oliver Oakes’ resignation on Tuesday and executive advisor Flavio Briatore stepping in to lead operations.

Questions Over Timing and Fairness

Many in the F1 paddock believe Doohan deserved more time to prove his worth, given the unfortunate circumstances that contributed to his demotion.

His qualifying pace showed promise, and incidents like the Miami collision were not entirely of his making, with the chaotic nature of Turn 1 incidents often involving multiple factors.

• Read also: Colapinto replaces Doohan at Alpine for next five races

Alpine’s decision to act swiftly, especially in a season where midfield consistency is critical, has sparked debate about whether Doohan was given a fair opportunity to adapt to the demands of a full-time F1 seat.

With the team eyeing a strong foundation for 2026, the pressure is now on Colapinto to deliver, while Doohan’s supporters hope his resilience and talent will earn him another shot in the future.

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