Ocon lambasts Alpine F1 driver switch which may “ruin” Doohan’s career

Former Alpine racer Esteban Ocon has hit out at the team after it demoted Jack Doohan back to a reserve driver role just six grands prix into the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Alpine promoted Doohan to a race seat at the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year, with Ocon giving up on his drive in order to be allowed to take part in the post-season test with his new team, Haas.

Doohan had been given a full-time seat for 2025, but was rumoured to be under threat before the campaign even started. The Australian was eventually cast aside in favour of Franco Colapinto after six point-less grands prix, having struggled to matched experienced team-mate Pierre Gasly.

“That’s always quite surprising to see, for sure,” Ocon told Canal+ in Imola. “If I look at it from Jack’s standpoint, over five races I think he showed decent speed, he showed things that mean he deserves at least to show a little bit more.

“It’s difficult for him. You ruin a driver’s career when you do something like that – though his career is far from over, I believe he’ll be back in F1 one day, he’s got potential. But people don’t realise drivers work their whole lives to get to that moment, and giving us five races like that, that’s not normal.”

Alpine’s managerial practices have been scrutinised due to the outfit’s hotly debated handling of its driver line-up as well as a revolving door of team principals, technical directors and various senior staff over the last few years.

“Anyway, that’s nothing new unfortunately,” Ocon lamented. “There are few seats in F1. Franco deserves to be in F1 too, for sure, but that’s not the right way to do it.”