Alpine’s Shocking F1 Driver Swap Sparks Controversy
In a stunning turn of events, former Alpine driver Esteban Ocon has expressed strong disapproval towards the team’s decision to demote Jack Doohan back to a reserve driver position just six races into the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Doohan was initially promoted to a race seat at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year, a move that led Ocon to relinquish his own drive to participate in post-season testing with Haas. However, despite being handed a full-time seat for the 2025 season, Doohan’s position came under speculation even before the start of the campaign. Following a string of disappointing performances, Doohan was replaced by Franco Colapinto after failing to match his teammate Pierre Gasly and scoring zero points in the first six races.
Ocon, speaking to Canal+ in Imola, expressed his surprise at the decision, stating, “If I look at it from Jack’s standpoint, over five races I think he showed decent speed, he showed things that mean he deserves at least to show a little bit more. It’s difficult for him. You ruin a driver’s career when you do something like that – though his career is far from over, I believe he’ll be back in F1 one day, he’s got potential.”
The controversial move has once again brought Alpine’s management under scrutiny, with critics pointing to the team’s inconsistent handling of driver line-ups and frequent changes in key personnel over the past few years. Ocon criticized the decision, highlighting the competitive nature of securing an F1 seat and the impact such abrupt changes can have on a driver’s career.
The upheaval at Alpine underscores the cutthroat environment of Formula 1, where talent alone may not always guarantee a secure position. While acknowledging Colapinto’s potential, Ocon emphasized that the manner in which the driver swap was executed was far from ideal.
As the F1 season unfolds, the repercussions of Alpine’s controversial driver switch are yet to be fully realized, leaving fans and experts alike questioning the team’s motives and the future of those involved in this high-stakes sport.