Alpine Racing Shakeup: Doohan Demoted, Oakes Out as Briatore Resumes Control
In a dramatic turn of events within the Alpine F1 team, Jack Doohan has been demoted after just six races, with Franco Colapinto stepping into the race seat for the next five events. This decision comes amid a backdrop of uncertainty for Alpine as they prepare to transition from their power unit program ahead of becoming a customer team.
Doohan, who debuted at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year, faced mounting pressure as Colapinto’s potential became increasingly evident. The Argentine rookie, backed by significant financial resources, showed promise during his initial outings with Williams, making him an appealing choice for Alpine. Team principal James Vowles indicated that Colapinto’s future appears brighter at Alpine, stating, “The best chance he has is with Alpine… After a period of time, he’ll return to Williams.”
Despite Alpine’s assurances that Colapinto’s promotion was not preordained, the team’s internal dynamics have shifted. Oliver Oakes unexpectedly resigned, leaving Flavio Briatore to assume control as both executive advisor and team principal. Briatore, known for his decisive approach, solidifies Colapinto’s position even as questions about team stability and leadership arise.
Doohan’s tenure saw mixed results; he struggled with consistency, highlighted by costly crashes in Australia and Japan. Although he outqualified Pierre Gasly in Miami, the combination of external pressures and on-track performance ultimately swayed team decisions.
Oakes had been vocal in his support for Doohan but acknowledged that results drive F1 careers. He remarked, “You’ve got to deliver… he’s done a really good job at blocking out the noise.” However, with the escalating performance demands and the incoming presence of Colapinto, the conditions for Doohan became untenable.
The larger implications of these developments point to lingering instability within Alpine, leaving fans and insiders questioning the team’s future competitiveness as they prepare for a pivotal season ahead.
