Breaking:Alpine Slammed for Controversial Driver Swap as Gasly’s Future Called into Q…read more
Alpine’s decision to replace one of their drivers with just six races in the books has been branded ‘unacceptable’ by an ex-Formula 1 star.
Alpine F1’s controversial move to replace one of their drivers just six races into the season has drawn heavy criticism, with former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya labeling the decision “unacceptable.” The criticism comes in the wake of the team’s decision to drop Australian rookie Jack Doohan following the Miami Grand Prix, promoting Argentine driver Franco Colapinto to the main seat for the next five races.
Doohan, who had earned a full-time seat this season after two years as a reserve, expressed public disappointment over his demotion. His brief stint saw him fail to score points, though his tenure was short and arguably lacked sufficient time for a fair evaluation. Now back in the reserve role, Doohan is left to watch from the sidelines once more.
Speaking to Sites de Apostas, Montoya argued that Doohan was not given a fair shot: “It’s unacceptable from a driver’s standpoint. Alpine gave Doohan a contract because they believed in his potential. You don’t yank that away six races in—it sends the wrong message.” He added that the circumstances around the switch were further muddled by prior instability at Red Bull, which had briefly taken media focus off Alpine’s internal moves.
Montoya also shed light on the rumored internal deal brokered by Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s newly influential figure, suggesting that Doohan was only guaranteed five races to prove himself. “If that’s the case,” Montoya said, “then the fair approach would have been to give five races each to Doohan, Colapinto, and reserve driver Paul Aron. Then you assess who’s really ready for a full-time seat in 2026.”
The fallout from Doohan’s exit has also put renewed scrutiny on Pierre Gasly. The Frenchman, who has only mustered seven points this season, could find himself under threat if Colapinto outperforms expectations. “If Franco starts beating Gasly, then yes, Pierre could be in trouble,” Montoya warned. “Briatore is clearly focused on finding the strongest driver pairing for next season.”
Colapinto, who previously impressed during a brief stint with Williams late last year, now has a high-stakes opportunity to prove his worth. The Argentine’s rise adds further pressure to an already struggling Alpine squad, which sits second-to-last in the constructors’ standings.
This shake-up comes during a particularly turbulent time for the team. Just days before the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, team principal Oliver Oakes resigned, handing more control to Briatore and leaving the squad in a state of flux as they look to salvage what’s left of a rocky 2025 season.
