F1 drivers hammer Alpine after brutal Doohan-Colapinto swap
Summary
F1 drivers criticize Alpine's decision to replace Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto, citing unfair pressure and insufficient opportunities for the young Australian. Drivers like Bearman and Lawson deem the situation "harsh" and question the limited timeframe given to prove oneself.
Alpine's decision to replace Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto has drawn sharp criticism from several Formula 1 drivers ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. The move, widely anticipated following Colapinto's signing as a reserve driver, sees the Argentine given five races to prove his capability before a final evaluation before the British Grand Prix.
Why it matters: The swift mid-season driver swap raises questions about Alpine's strategy and the pressure on young drivers.
Driver Reactions:
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine teammate): Expressed well wishes for Doohan, a "nice guy and a rookie," while acknowledging the team's need to assess Colapinto's performance. "I worked well with Jack," Gasly stated.
- Fernando Alonso (Former Alpine driver): Downplayed the pressure on current F1 drivers, contrasting it with his own debut experience. "The pressure these days is a bit different," he noted.
- Esteban Ocon (Former Alpine driver): Admitted little surprise at the team's decisions, expressing sadness for Doohan but confidence in Colapinto's potential. "Unfortunately, there are not enough cars on the grid to fit all the talents," Ocon commented.
- Oscar Piastri (Fellow Australian driver): Described the situation as "tough all round" for both Doohan and Colapinto, acknowledging Doohan's F1 achievement despite the short stint.
- Ollie Bearman (Fellow 2025 rookie): Found the situation and pressure "horrible" and "incredibly harsh," feeling Doohan's treatment was "very unfair" given the challenging start to his F1 career.
- Liam Lawson (Fellow 2025 rookie): Spoke with Doohan and believes he "showed enough to be in Formula 1" but questioned the expectation to prove oneself in just five races. "It's very, very tough" with only 20 seats, Lawson added.
- Alex Albon (Former teammate of Colapinto at Williams): Felt sorry for Doohan, believing he "deserved a bit more time." Albon also noted Colapinto's talent but anticipated a learning curve, recalling his brief time with Williams.
Original Article :https://racingnews365.com/f1-drivers-hammer-alpine-after-brutal-doohan-colapinto...