The Alpine boss revealed what the Australian driver told him after the crash at the Australian GP
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Franco Colapinto shook things up at Alpine, and his arrival at the team caused a lot of media pressure, as well as speculations about the future of Jack Doohan, one of the main drivers. This was revealed by Oliver Oakes, the team's director.
Oakes himself acknowledged that the team was responsible for the impact of the Argentine driver's incorporation, especially on Jack Doohan, referring to the situation as an excess of "noise." "It's fair to say that we've caused a lot of noise. We haven't put him in the best position (Doohan)," he admitted.
He also pointed out the effect of Colapinto's popularity: "If it had been anyone else signed as a reserve, without so many followers and the noise that comes with it, it would have been a bit different." Currently, Alpine has three other reserve drivers: Paul Aron, Ryo Hirakawa, and Kush Maini. However, the Argentine was chosen to fill that role in the first two major races of the season.
Regarding this decision, Oakes explained that it responds to a long-term planned strategy. "We have 900 people depending on us to make the right decision. Now we have four reserves. As a team, we need to do it because it's right to keep an eye on the future," he argued.
La competencia de Colapinto en la Reserva
Meanwhile, the head of Alpine praised Jack Doohan's performance, highlighting his effort despite the context of rumors and pressures surrounding him. "He never got discouraged. He worked very hard during the winter and all that contributed to the result he achieved," he stated. He also referred to the volatility of the Formula 1 world: "You go from hero to zero very quickly. You have to keep performing and doing what you're doing."
Doohan's debut in the 2025 season was not as expected, as in turn 4 of the first lap of the Grand Prix he lost control of his car and crashed into the walls, leaving him out of the race. This episode caused various reactions, but Oakes assured that the team supported him at all times.
El choque de Doohan trajó incertidumbre sobre su futuro
"Meanwhile, I consoled him and said: 'Come on, mate, we're back next weekend.' He had a great weekend and wanted to keep it that way. And for us, in the team, it's really good. It's fantastic to see the dynamic between him and Pierre, working with the engineers; we hadn't seen something like that in a while," he expressed.
Finally, Oakes insisted that Doohan must prove his worth on the track without relying on the team's protection. "I can't defend him all the time, I think he has to speak on the track and I think he has done so. China will be difficult, but he knows he must stay focused and keep working," he concluded.
Doohan tendrá que demostrar un buen nivel si quiere seguir
This weekend, Formula 1 travels to Shanghai for the second race of the season. Alpine will seek to recover from its poor start and begin to score points in both standings.
