Former Alpine racer Esteban Ocon criticized the team for demoting Jack Doohan back to a reserve driver role just six races into the 2025 Formula 1 season. Alpine had initially promoted Doohan to a race seat at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year, with Ocon relinquishing his drive to join Haas for testing.
Doohan, who had a full-time seat for 2025, was replaced by Franco Colapinto after struggling to keep up with teammate Pierre Gasly and failing to score any points in the first six races. Ocon expressed surprise and disappointment at the decision, noting that drivers work tirelessly to reach F1 and deserve more opportunities.
The handling of driver lineup changes and managerial instability at Alpine has drawn criticism from Ocon and others, with concerns about the impact on drivers’ careers and the lack of stability within the team. Ocon believes Doohan still has potential and could make a comeback to F1 in the future, emphasizing the challenges faced by drivers in a competitive environment.
