What should have been a strategic mid-season driver change at Alpine has instead exposed a deeper crisis within the team, one that reveals a pattern of mismanagement, a culture of scapegoating, and a Formula 1 system increasingly hostile to rookie development. Jack Doohan is out. Franco Colapinto is in. But this isn’t about performance, it’s about power, politics, and PR.
A Brutal Exit for Doohan
Jack Doohan’s time at Alpine ended not with a bang, but with quiet disregard. After years of loyalty to the team and patient development, he was demoted just a few races into his F1 debut season. There was no real build-up, no public defense of his potential, just silence, followed by replacement.
What made it worse was how exposed he was to criticism. Doohan faced social media abuse during his time in the car, compounding the pressure of driving for a dysfunctional team. Internally, the metrics were harsh but skewed, his qualifying gap to Gasly was growing, but in a car incapable of consistent performance, raw pace becomes a flawed benchmark. And while Gasly has struggled himself, his position remains unchallenged.
Rather than acknowledge systemic issues, Alpine sacrificed the rookie. That sacrifice wasn’t made in service of results, it was made in service of distraction.
Mick Doohan’s Response: Quiet but Damning
Adding fuel to the fire, Jack’s father, racing legend Mick Doohan, posted a quiet but telling story on social media: Pierre Gasly’s recent string of disappointing finishes. It was a subtle gesture, but a clear indictment. The message was unmistakable: rather than the driver, the team should be held accountable.
Gasly Optics: Disconnected and Untouchable
Gasly, meanwhile, spent the week attending the PSG vs Arsenal Champions League semifinal in a VIP suite with Tony Parker, posting carefree photos while his teammate was effectively dismissed from the team. It underscored a growing detachment within Alpine’s driver structure, one where performance no longer correlates with consequence.
This was less about Gasly’s leisure time and more about the optics: a teammate ousted under pressure, and the remaining veteran posing courtside like nothing happened. It spoke volumes about morale, and even more about accountability.
Colapinto’s Debut: Right Driver, Wrong Situation
Make no mistake, Franco Colapinto is immensely talented. His F2 campaign showed maturity, consistency, and flashes of race-winning pace. His arrival in F1 for Williams was a milestone for Argentina, and the momentum behind his name is authentic.
But the timing and framing of his promotion raise questions. His announcement was paired with a polished MercadoLibre ad campaign. The rollout was choreographed, not to celebrate talent, but to maximize brand synergy. This wasn’t just a driver debut, it was a product launch.
Colapinto isn’t just replacing Doohan; he’s being positioned as a commercial asset in a team desperate for relevance. And that’s a dangerous position for a rookie, especially in a seat where expectations are high and patience is nonexistent.
Alpine’s History Repeats Itself
What’s unfolding now echoes past failures. Heikki Kovalainen was once Renault’s great hope, rushed into a top seat, judged on a turbulent year, and unceremoniously moved on. Oscar Piastri was mishandled and lost. Daniel Ricciardo fled after losing faith. Fernando Alonso left in frustration. And now Jack Doohan is the latest casualty in a long line of poor driver development and worse team culture.
Alpine isn’t building a future. It’s auditioning scapegoats.
The Rookie Crisis in F1
Doohan’s story is part of a broader issue: Formula 1’s shrinking tolerance for rookie development. The modern paddock demands instant results. Rookies aren’t given seasons to grow, they’re given sessions. One poor qualifying or a tough race stint, and their reputation starts slipping.
Colapinto now enters this same pressure cooker. A single mistake could spark the same criticism that drove Doohan out. There’s no structure to protect young drivers anymore, only a gauntlet.
Alpine’s Identity Crisis
Alpine’s driver decisions are no longer about long-term goals. They’re reactive, image-driven, and devoid of cohesive strategy. Leadership turnover has stripped the team of its voice. The paddock no longer knows what Alpine stands for, beyond instability.
The idea that Flavio Briatore is the acting team principle only adds to the chaos, reinforcing the image of a team reaching backward instead of evolving.
Closing Thought: Colapinto’s Dream, Alpine’s Cycle
Franco Colapinto deserves his shot. Argentina deserves its hero. But neither deserves to be dragged into a system that chews up promise and spits out PR spin.
Doohan deserved more than a test. He deserved a team. Instead, he was placed in a seat too toxic to nurture growth. Now Colapinto must try to thrive in the same seat, knowing that history at Enstone rarely repeats as success.
If Alpine fails him too, it won’t be a shock. It’ll just be the next chapter in the same story.