In another brutal swap-out this Formula 1 season, Australian Jack Doohan has reportedly been dropped by Alpine, just six races in. While we’re keeping an our eyes peeled for an official announcement, numerous reports suggest Alpine will be making the call to promote reserve driver Franco Colapinto.
Doohan’s Turn 1 crash with Kiwi Liam Lawson at the Miami Grand Prix on Monday might have marked the end of the line, with outlets suggesting the 22-year-old was informed of plans for an immediate driver change before he departed the circuit.
As reported by the BBC, Alpine are set to call in Colapinto into the team’s second car — alongside Pierre Gasly — just ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, which begins May 16.
The Aussie young gun’s been dogged for months by questions about his future. He’s shown strong pace on occasion but has also been involved in multiple crashes which have left the door open for Alpine to consider a change, the BBC noted.
He crashed out of the season opener in Melbourne, picked up penalties during the sprint races in China and suffered a heavy crash in Japan.
Doohan, the son of champion motorcycle racer Mick, has yet to nab a championship point in Formula 1. As it stands, he’s one of four drivers on the grid who haven’t scored a single championship point for a top-10 finish this season.
Argentine Colapinto — who raced for Williams in nine grands prix last year — impressed by scoring points in the Azerbaijan and US races. The momentum was dented, though, with heavy crashes at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix and in qualifying at the Las Vegas.
He had also crashed in practice in Baku before scoring his breakthrough first points in the race.
Speculation around a driver swap heated up last week when Colapinto’s sponsor, YPF CEO Horacio Marin, was caught on a hot mic saying the 21-year-old would be in the car for Imola.
But Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes was quick to brush off the remarks.
“Yeah, as it is today, Jack is our driver along with Pierre. We’ve been pretty clear on that. We always evaluate, but yeah – today, that is the case,” Oakes said, per news.com.au.
He added: “Jack needs to continue doing a good job. But it’s natural that there’s always speculation there.”
