The fact that this day would come was already praised before the season, but in front of Imola Alpine dared to take the step and took Jack Doohan out of the car – after just six seasonal races.
The Australian makes space for Franco Colapinto, which was recorded in the already filled replacement cabinet of the French in January, which was interpreted as a sign for many that it would be used at some point this season.
Together with the less encouraging statements by Flavio Briatore before the season, Doohan was under enormous pressure from the start. And the youngster finally failed because of this pressure. Doohan made several serious mistakes and was exchanged with an empty point account.
And yet this measure works hard for many drivers in the field – especially since Colapinto also put some serious accidents in the past year and Williams’ repair costs.
Especially Doohan’s Mitrookies feel with the 22-year-old, who had a difficult stand with Alpine from the start: “I think it is very difficult in such a situation if you feel this pressure from the first race,” says Haas-Rookie Oliver Bearman before the Grand Prix in Imola.
“I can only imagine that this is a terrible situation and I think his treatment was very unfair,” the Englishman criticizes Alpine’s action.
Bearman knows how difficult it has rookies in Formula 1, especially in the first quarter of the season. “I think four of the six routes were new for us rookies,” he says – in fact, China, Japan and Miami are only three.
And yet: “We had two sprint races that are even more difficult for us as rookies. And before he even comes to the European season, where he knows the routes, he is already out of the car,” shakes the Haas driver’s head and describes the situation as “incredibly hard”.
Antonelli: better car, less pressure from outside
Some say that if you are quick and talented enough, you can get through anyway. This is right to a certain extent, but in modern Formula 1 there are many nuances and reservations.
For example, some refer to the immediate impression that Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli left.
However, as can be seen in the officially approved documentary “The Seat”, Antonelli benefited from as much test time as the regulations allowed, a well -thought -out preparatory program away from the route with racing engineer Peter Bonnington and a much warmer and supported handling by the team boss.
You can also look at Bearman’s three Grands Prix as a substitute last year when he followed two less striking missions for Haas to an impressive, fast and sovereign debut at Ferrari in Dschidda.
“It cannot be denied that cars that are further ahead in the field are easier to drive,” says Bearman. “The Aero platform of the car is more robust, and this makes you less prone to errors.” He also notices that, because although he has more experience, he makes significantly more mistakes than in his debut race last year.
“I think this trend is a bit hard to throw out people immediately. Especially with a rookie, a guy with not much experience – six races are a pretty big challenge. At least that’s how I see it,” says the Haas pilot.
Lawson: “Unfortunately the business is merciless”
Rookie colleague Isack Hadjar, who apparently exceeded the rather modest expectations of the Red Bull managers before the start of the season, also says similarly: “Even before the season, it had a bad aftertaste because I think that he went into the season with many pressure expectations,” he says.
“So this is not really a good environment, and it feels pretty unfair, because – well, after six races he didn’t have much time to show something – and it’s not as if he had driven a rocket,” says the Frenchman.
One who has experienced something similar this season is Liam Lawson. The New Zealander even only got two races at Red Bull before it was thrown out. In contrast to Doohan, he still has a catch basin with the Racing Bulls and can continue.
“Of course that’s very hard for him,” says Lawson. “How can you show everything you have to do in five races, especially in the rookie season? Unfortunately the business is very merciless,” he knows, and thinks that Doohan has “done enough” to be in Formula 1. “But with only 20 cockpits it is extremely difficult. Each team makes its own decisions.”
McLaren pilot Oscar Piatri, who had decided against the cockpit at Alpine at the time, tried to build Doohan after his end: “I think Jack can be proud of what he has achieved,” he says. “He still made it into Formula 1, and nobody can take that.”
Did many mistakes doohan cost the cockpit?
“I think it’s a shame that you dealt with him like this,” Sky expert Timo Glock, meanwhile, targets Alpine. Franco Colapinto’s early test was so “clear and obviously” in one direction “that it was only a matter of time when it was replaced”.
“I can’t remember that it existed in my time,” said the German.
But – and then you come to the other side of the medal – Jack Doohan also delivered little arguments that were able to convince Alpine to leave him in the cockpit. “In the end, he made mistakes,” says Glock.
In Australia and Miami, he ended the race in the first round with an accident, in China he collected penalty points in a collision with both in the sprint – and then there would also be the thing in Japan when Doohan tried to drive through the first curve with an open DRS – a fateful mistake.
“That was completely chaotic,” criticized Ralf Schumacher at Sky and says that Doohan was “overwhelmed” – even if Alpine played a role for him.
Ralf Schumacher: Doohan branded after shootout
In contrast to many others, Doohan actually had a huge chance that he simply couldn’t use. “Alpine has this old car, you had it tested a lot, well over 10,000 kilometers,” he says.
And then there was this ominous shootout test with Mick Schumacher last year, after which one had decided against the German and for Doohan – because he was supposed to have been faster.
According to Schumacher, what was communicated corresponded to the truth. “But he was just far away, especially in the Longrun,” he says, although no one knows the exact conditions of the test from the outside. It was therefore “already carved in stone” for him that it would run that way for Doohan.
“Unless, sometimes the button goes up with a racing driver, you don’t know beforehand. But it didn’t work.”
Therefore, the ex-pilot considers Alpine’s decision to be legitimate. “I think Flavio and the drivers knew what they were doing. I only think the communication was wrong,” he says. Now to test Colapinto with regard to the coming year because it is better to see each other, “is a plan and also a concept”.
“What does Alpine want to win here now or not? So everything you do now is new people on board and get the best driver out,” said Schumacher.
Colapinto sees “great chance”
Time will show whether it will do better Colapinto. Because it will not be easy for him either, Piatri believes. The Argentinian has some previous experience from last year, but he too has the announcement that he has five races. “These are also not simple circumstances to get back to Formula 1,” he says.
Colapinto himself tries to see it positively and says that he perceives it as a “great opportunity”. “I am happy to be in Formula 1. I don’t think in ‘five races’ – I’m just in a good atmosphere and deal well with the situation.”
But who also knows that five races are not much – especially when you see how drivers like Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton have to fight after their team changes. “I only drove a total of nine Formula 1 races in my life. So it will probably take a few more than five to get speed and really get everything out of the car.”
“But that’s the situation. I just want to make the best of it, enjoy it and give it the best for the team,” said Colapinto, who at the same time emphasizes that the circumstances are “never beautiful” when you get into the car of another driver “.
“But you can’t choose the moment when you land in Formula 1. I just take the chance to do my best and get everything out for the team.”