Ocon criticizes Alpine's 'unfair' treatment of Jack Doohan

Esteban Ocon has publicly criticized his former team, Alpine, for its handling of Jack Doohan, calling the decision to drop the young Australian after just six races in 2025 "not fair." The comments come as the pair are reunited at Haas, where Ocon is now a race driver and Doohan serves as the reserve driver for the 2026 season.

Why it matters:

Ocon's candid criticism highlights the intense pressure and often short leashes given to young drivers trying to establish themselves in Formula 1. His defense of Doohan, a close friend and former teammate, underscores a belief within the paddock that the 23-year-old was not afforded a proper chance to prove his worth. This situation also casts a shadow on Alpine's driver development strategy, raising questions about their commitment to nurturing talent after investing in Doohan's junior career and granting him his debut.

The details:

• Ocon stated that Doohan "didn’t have enough of a chance" at Alpine, arguing that "you can’t have three or four races to just prove yourself."
• Doohan's F1 race stint was brief: he made his debut substituting for Ocon at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and started seven races total in 2025 before being replaced.
• The French driver expressed happiness at seeing Doohan in a "healthy environment" at Haas, where he believes the Australian can help the team develop its car.
• Reflecting on his own career as he enters his 10th season, Ocon admitted time has flown but his ambition remains unfulfilled, stating, "I don’t think I’ve achieved very much in F1 in comparison to what I’m dreaming of."
• He pinpointed consistent winning in junior categories as his standard and aims to fight at the front in F1 once more.

What's next:

For 2026, Ocon's immediate focus is on extracting consistent performance from the Haas package, targeting regular points finishes after a promising pre-season and Australian Grand Prix where teammate Oliver Bearman scored. For Doohan, the reserve role at Haas keeps him embedded in the F1 paddock, positioned for a potential future opportunity. Ocon's strong endorsement could bolster Doohan's reputation as he works to secure a full-time seat, while the criticism adds to the narrative pressure on Alpine to justify its driver decisions with the performance of its 2026 lineup.