Mick Doohan has publicly expressed discontent following Alpine’s decision to replace his son, Jack Doohan, with Franco Colapinto. The move, while widely anticipated due to Jack’s lack of points across six races, triggered backlash from the elder Doohan, who maintains that his son’s performance was not as dire as the statistics suggest.
Alpine confirmed the reshuffle, installing Colapinto alongside Pierre Gasly beginning at Imola. The team cited a meticulous review process and the competitiveness of the field as reasons for the switch. Jack Doohan, who entered the season under the cloud of a six-race deal, has now been relegated to reserve duties. Colapinto, meanwhile, has a brief five-race window to justify his promotion.
In defense of Jack, Mick Doohan posted a pointed comparison on Instagram, highlighting that Pierre Gasly—the team’s benchmark—has accumulated only seven points himself. He noted that Jack’s best finish matched Gasly’s worst, subtly undermining the narrative that Jack had underperformed catastrophically. The implication was clear: Jack’s contributions warranted more respect and patience.
The timing of the reshuffle added further drama. Team principal Ollie Oakes abruptly exited, paving the way for Flavio Briatore’s controversial return to Alpine leadership—a figure whose past with the team was marred by the infamous “Crashgate” scandal. Briatore emphasized that the team’s evolving competitiveness justified the rotation of their driver lineup, stressing the urgency to optimize results in a tightly packed grid.
Further intrigue surrounds Colapinto’s arrival, reportedly costing Alpine €4.5 million in a buyout from Williams. While he began brightly with two points-scoring finishes in four races last season, his campaign ended poorly with three retirements in four. As Jack Doohan navigates his uncertain future, he has received support from fellow Australian Oscar Piastri, who praised his resilience and believes Jack will thrive in whatever path he chooses next.