The orchestrated driver swap between Franco Colapinto and Jack Doohan at Alpine is bizarre and defies logic.
The past few days have demonstrated more shocking leadership by Renault management. Franco Colapinto transitioning to an Alpine race seat in 2025 always seemed a matter of if, not when it would happen.
Since the start of the season, Alpine has effectively placed Jack Doohan inside his metaphorical coffin with evasive answers to questions about his supposed five-race deadline to impress. Now, it has been sealed.
Given its inevitability, this situation should have been easy to handle in PR terms. Announce Colapinto, thank Jack Doohan, and prepare for a fresh start at Imola. Alpine badly needed to avoid a repeat of the Oscar Piastri and Otmar Szafnauer debacles. Essentially it needed to operate professionally.
Instead, yet another PR disaster unfolded, with Colapinto’s promotion becoming lost in the fast unravelling of yet more management mishap at the once respected manufacturer.
The situation at Alpine has transcended all logic to become farcical. In a sport where stability is critical to success, Alpine has as much as a precious piece of china hanging precariously on the edge of a table. Those in sight of the spectacle know it is going to smash eventually.
What Oliver Oakes’ resignation gives away
The resignation of Oliver Oakes came just hours before news that Franco Colapinto would replace Jack Doohan.
At face value, announcing Oakes’ departure all but confirmed Doohan’s fate. It was blindingly obvious as a fan dressed from head to toe in Ferrari gear stating he supported the Scuderia.
Oakes has become the latest in a long line of team principals and senior team members to either be fired or resign. Briatore now has full operational control of the team he was fired after the 2008 Crashgate scandal.
However, as it turns out, Alpine fell victim to a case of poor timing worse than a tourist arriving at the airport as their flight takes off. The team had no control over the criminal charges brought against Oakes’s brother; all it could do was react.
There is no easy way to align a Team Principal’s departure announcement ahead of a driver swap following immediately. But releasing two major statements in such a short time frame would always cause issues for Alpine.
Oakes’ departure will now forever be associated with Jack Doohan’s demotion, as well as criminality, far from an ideal association for an F1 team.
Another five-race driver contract
The decision to give Colapinto a five race contract, mirroring Doohan’s now infamous deal at the start of the season is perplexing.
Doohan has now taken the role of hunter, looming over Colpainto as he attempts to perform with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
On paper, this is readable as Alpine attempting to give equality to Doohan. Franco Colapinto now has the same number of races to prove himself as Doohan, so, in theory, all is fair in love and war.
But what happens after his five races are up if he fails to meet Flavio Briatore’s expectations? Colapinto has a history of crashing while under pressure. The law of averages indicates the young Argentinian will do so again.
Should Colapinto quite literally crash out of the seat, Alpine and Briatore will face another decision: put Doohan back in, or give Paul Aron a stint in the car. Neither situation is ideal for the team, nor aiding stability.
F1 drivers are expected to perform from the second they climb into the cockpit. It is the brutal reality of the sport. But drivers must also be given time. Granted, not much time, but all need a small period of adaptation.
Five races are not enough to form a complete analysis of a driver. However, it gave Doohan more of a opportunity than Red Bull did for Liam Lawson.
Where now for Alpine?
Credibility is now dangerously thin on the ground for Alpine. This is not the fault of the staff at Enstone. Decisions taken by senior management continue to baffle those outside the paddock.
The hiring of Jack Doohan is clearly an episode that rivals the handling of Oscar Piastri’s departure for McLaren. It is a prime example of the battle Alpine is constantly facing, the one between extenuating circumstances and its shocking ability to shoot itself in the foot.
F1 never stands still. Hesitate as a team, and rivals very quickly overtake, leaving a team frantically chasing its tail. Alpine has been stuck in this cycle for over a decade now.
Briatore now back in command of the team might give it some much-needed stability. But he will need to address the team’s sunken reputation.
Alpine at present cannot be trusted to make logical decisions. Another driver change will not aid the behavioural change required.
Doohan’s coffin may now be sealed, but Alpine has now climbed inside its own, and is screwing the lid on itself. The race is on for the team to come to its senses.
