Alpine Team Faces Controversy Over Driver Change Ahead of Emilia Romagna GP
In a significant driver reshuffle, Alpine has replaced Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto for the upcoming Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. The decision comes after just six races in Doohan’s rookie season, igniting debate among motorsport analysts regarding the fairness of mid-season driver changes.
During a discussion on Sky Sports F1, former champion Jenson Button criticized the team’s decision, asserting, “There should be a ruling that you cannot change your driver during a season. If a driver has a contract, they should be able to compete for the entire season.” He acknowledged Colapinto’s past performance, especially his strong results in testing but reiterated that the driver swap seems unjustified after such a short stint.
Karun Chandhok echoed Button’s sentiments, labeling the move as "harsh" on Doohan. He noted that the Australian had demonstrated flashes of speed and, despite some unfortunate incidents, occasionally matched teammate Pierre Gasly’s pace. Lead commentator David Croft highlighted the commercial motivations behind the decision, stating, “I don’t see anything other than commercial considerations in that driver decision.”
Colapinto, who had served as Alpine’s reserve driver, will occupy the seat alongside Gasly for the next five races, although team principal Flavio Briatore has hinted that the arrangement could extend indefinitely. Notably, Doohan’s average grid position this season stands at 15.5, slightly better than Colapinto’s average of 16th over nine outings with Williams.
The Alpine team’s swift action reflects the high stakes and pressures inherent in Formula 1, where performance and sponsorship considerations often intertwine.
