Ocon Critiques Alpine’s Handling of Doohan Demotion
In a significant shift for Alpine’s driver lineup, Esteban Ocon has publicly criticized the team’s decision to demote Jack Doohan back to a reserve position after just six races in the 2025 Formula 1 season. Doohan had been promoted to a full-time race seat following the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Ocon sacrificing his own seat to participate in post-season testing for Haas.
Despite the initial promise, Doohan struggled to score points, finishing the opening races without placing in the top positions, prompting Alpine to replace him with Franco Colapinto. Ocon expressed surprise at the swift decision to remove Doohan from his seat, suggesting that the Australian demonstrated sufficient speed and potential to warrant more opportunities.
"It’s difficult for him," Ocon remarked during an interview with Canal+. "You ruin a driver’s career when you do something like that… I believe he’ll be back in F1 one day; he’s got potential."
Alpine’s approach to managing their driver lineup has come under scrutiny, reinforcing ongoing concerns about the team’s stability, evidenced by a turbulent history of leadership changes among team principals and technical directors. Ocon acknowledged the competitiveness of F1, stating, "There are few seats in F1," and while Colapinto deserves his chance, he questioned the method of Doohan’s dismissal.
The developments highlight the challenges faced by teams in nurturing talent while balancing performance against the backdrop of high-stakes competition. Ocon’s comments reflect a broader conversation in the paddock about driver development and team continuity within the sport.
