The story between Doohan e Alpine è come to an end: the Australian becomes reserve driver and, in his place, we find Franco again as starter Colapinto. The performances of the young Jack have not convinced, this is clear, but that is not all. In fact, behind the switch just made there could also be internal dynamics, which can also weigh almost as much as the results collected on the track. Hypothesis, among other things, fueled by the shadows surrounding the abandonment of Olivier Oakes to the French team, on which there is still much clarity to be done.
Did Doohan really do that badly in Alpine?
On the conduct di Doohan in Alpine weigh for sure two events: the accident in Australia and that in Japan. In both cases the machine was completely destroyed, resulting in cost increase for the team. In the first case, the former rookie finished his race after not even one lap. In the second, however, during free practice he attempted to drive through the entry section into turn 1 at Suzuka with the DRS open. From this last accident, it is actually clear that Alpine was slightly to blame for the lack of care for its driver. In fact, the team he didn't let him take part in the first free practice sessions, giving his seat to Hirakawa, on a particularly difficult circuit. Furthermore, even the choice to keep the DRS open It was particular: is it possible that there was no discussion between the rider and the team before this clumsy attempt? It is difficult to understand, but the fact remains that, even if Doohan had acted on his own initiative without consulting anyone, it would still emerge a communication problem Between the parts.
Furthermore, the fact that Doohan did not have a good relationship with the team in Alpine was also evident at Miami. The outburst was heavy after the exclusion from the first session of the sprint qualifications. Probably, it was all a symptom of a bond that was never forged, with Alpine who, thanks to the hiring of Colapinto, has started to put a lot of pressure on the Australian, with the latter who, all things considered, found himself signing more than one Internship contract than as a professional pilot.
The Doohan vs Gasly comparison in Alpine
All this precarious context must then be compared with the results. We are talking about someone who was a rookie, with behind him only one race completed in 2024 in Abu Dhabi and that, surely, he deserved more time than he was given. A few days ago, Mick doohan, Jack's father, then posted on Instagram two photos comparing the progress of the son with that of gasly. In fact, Alpine has only scored points once with the Frenchman in the Bahrain GP, demonstrating how the hoped-for results, especially after sixth place in the 2024 constructors' championship, have not yet arrived. Moreover, in Bahrain, Doohan also found himself fighting for the points zone. Then, a sudden safety car shuffled the cards, with the Australian finishing 14th at the finish line.
Finally, gasly he collected a disqualification (always for the team's responsibility) and a training camp in Saudi Arabia. In the same race, however, Doohan finished 17th thanks to a very aggressive strategy. In fact, Alpine had called the driver at the start of the race, fitting him with hard tyres so as to reach the end of the race without stopping. A strategy that, given the final result, did not pay off. In short, Doohan may not have been able to make the most of his skills, but neither the car nor the team they allowed him to do much more. Gasly, finally, scored points only a second time: during the Miami Sprint thanks to the penalties that hit the drivers who had initially preceded him.
Oakes and Briatore: Double standards with Doohan in Alpine
Analyzing the comparison with his teammate does not mean to say that Doohan gave his best in Alpine. Indeed, he certainly could and should have given more. In the end, you are a Formula 1 driver also because the pressure or, as seen, the other difficulties due to the relationship with the team, are things of the day and, in one way or another, you have to know how to manage them. To the Australian's declining trend, however, we must also consider what happened behind the scenes of the French team. oakes e Briatore They expressed themselves differently about young Jack at different times.
Oakes has it first defended after the disastrous Australian GP. While, following the decent performance in Bahrain, the former team principal had praised the work done. It seemed, in fact, that Doohan could arrive firmly in his seat at least until the summer break. Then came Miami, preceded by some Briatore's statements aimed at downplaying what was said about the pressures reserved for the former Alpine driver, stating that only those who work as workers can suffer them 2500 euros per month. Now, leaving aside the fact that in Italy workers have a much lower salary, the dynamics are quite clear. Oakes protected Doohan, while Briatore, skeptical about his hiring, he pushed very for Colapinto.
The bond between Oakes and the Australian is not new. In fact, the two had already worked together at the time of HitechGP in Formula 3, as well as Paul Aron, currently Alpine's reserve driver alongside Doohan, was part of Oakes' team last year in F2. Coincidences to which we must add what has been said in recent months about the future of the transalpine team, with its former team principal who he had met during the pre-season tests this year Dmitry Mazepin, former financier of the F2 and F3 team (and with whom his son Nikita raced). Ultimately, however, the house of cards that had been erected between the future of Alpine and Hitech GP finally collapsed after the Miami GP.
Briatore demanding with the drivers: the precedents of the former Benetton manager
Oakes, as is known, chooses to resign just after the weekend in Florida. He does it, as he tells "The Telegraph", probably due to the arrest of his brother William, Hitech GP Sporting Director. In fact, he seems to have been found in possession of a large quantity of cash banknotes. Behind all this, as the English newspaper explains, there seems to be Mazepin himself was involved. Meanwhile Doohan, coming off a disastrous weekend, loses his only ally in Alpine. And so, Flavio Briatore he doesn't think twice about giving the coup de grace to a situation that had already been in the balance for some time. Out with the Australian and in with Colapinto.
The dynamics with which Doohan was demoted to Alpine seem quite similar to what has happened in the past. Briatore has always been demanding with his drivers. An example could be the dismissal of Trulli in 2004 from Renault, despite his results being almost in line with those of Alonso, his teammate. In 1994, then, as already mentioned by Sardine of Formula Passion, Briatore found himself alternating the second seat of the Benedictamong three pilots: JJ Letho, Joseph Verstappen e Johnny Herbert.
Finally, even more peculiar is what happened in 1989, the year in which Briatore arrived in Formula 1 as executive director of Benetton itself. As he soon clashed with Peter Collins, the team's sporting director. The reason? The choice to entrust the second car to Johnny Herbert. The English driver, in fact, had not yet fully recovered from a very bad accident he had at Brands Hatch in Formula 3000. Herbert thus arrived at the opening GP of his first season in F1 still injured, but, despite everything, he finished his first race in fourth position. Later on the results did not improve and, when Collins left the team, Briatore did not hesitate to fire Hebert in favor of Emanuel Pirro.
A dynamic, albeit with the necessary differences, similar in part to what happened between Doohan, Oakes and Briatore himself in Alpine.
