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Motorsport

Esteban Ocon: Alpine’s F1 driver switch is wrong

Esteban Ocon Alpine Jack Doohan F1 Franco Colapinto

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.

Jack Doohan and Esteban Ocon, alongside Fernando Alonso and Oliver Bearman (Photo by: Peter Fox / Getty Images)

“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.”

Photos from Emilia Romagna GP - Practice

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Alex Albon, Williams

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Alexander Albon, Williams

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Alexander Albon, Williams

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Luca de Meo, CEO of the Renault Group talks with Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Alex Albon, Williams

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday

Formula 1

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In this article

Ben Vinel

Formula 1

Esteban Ocon

Jack Doohan

Alpine

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