Formula 1 in Turmoil: Alpine Under Fire for Mishandling Rookie Driver Amid Replacement Speculations
Alpine is facing intense criticism from former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher for their alleged mishandling of rookie driver Jack Doohan. The Australian driver has been struggling in the 2025 season, with rumors swirling about his potential replacement by reserve driver Franco Colapinto even before the season commenced.
Doohan’s lackluster performance, including crashes in Australia and China, as well as a freak accident at Suzuka, has raised concerns about his future with the team. Despite being on zero points this season, Doohan is likely to retain his seat for the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix.
Schumacher, a pundit for Sky Germany, has called out Alpine for their lack of support towards Doohan and insinuated that team advisor Flavio Briatore may be pushing for a driver change. The speculation surrounding Colapinto, who participated in testing at Monza, further fuels the uncertainty surrounding Doohan’s position within the team.
The six-time grand prix winner criticized Alpine for replacing Doohan with reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa during FP1 in Japan, only for Hirakawa to depart from the team immediately after the weekend. Schumacher emphasized the importance of team support for a rookie driver, citing missed opportunities for Doohan to gain valuable experience on new tracks.
While Schumacher acknowledges Doohan’s own responsibility in his challenging start to the season, he ultimately places the blame on Alpine for the mishandling of the situation. The veteran driver hopes that Doohan can deliver a strong performance in Bahrain to silence the critics and alleviate the mounting pressure on the young driver.
As the tension escalates within the Alpine team, all eyes are on Doohan as he gears up to prove his worth on the demanding Bahrain circuit. Will Doohan rise to the occasion and secure his spot in the team, or will Alpine succumb to the pressure and make a drastic driver change mid-season? The Formula 1 world watches eagerly as this high-stakes drama unfolds.