Jack Doohan Benched After High-Profile F1 Errors—With Flavio Briatore’s Shadow Looming
Jack Doohan barely had time to settle into Formula 1 before his career path hit a brick wall. Right when the Australian rookie thought he’d locked in a full-time race seat at Alpine F1 for 2025, the team cut him for at least the next five Grands Prix. His stand-in? Franco Colapinto, who’s already shown he can handle the top flight after stepping in for Williams last year.
Doohan's rookie season was rough around the edges. In Miami, his race came undone almost instantly after tangling wheels with Liam Lawson before fans had even finished their coffees. That could've been forgiven as a rookie mistake, but what happened in Japan shook the team: barreling into one of the fastest sections of Suzuka, he lost control and slammed into the barriers at over 300 km/h. The car was left in tatters and Alpine’s mechanics were working overtime for a replacement chassis and parts. Those high-speed blunders, on top of smaller errors, sent whispers swirling up and down the paddock—especially when the 2025 Alpine showed little promise compared to rivals.
Alpine F1's team leadership watched everything play out with growing concern. That's where the whole story takes a controversial turn. Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s high-profile advisor, isn’t a stranger to drama. Briatore was banned for life from FIA-sanctioned events in the wake of F1’s infamous 2008 ‘Crashgate’ scandal—a punishment later overturned, but the man’s reputation still follows him wherever he goes. Nevertheless, Alpine welcomed him back as a team advisor, trusting his ruthless style could inject new life into their lineup.
But some argue Briatore just brings more turmoil. Several insiders say he was the one who pushed hardest for Doohan’s demotion, worrying that more mistakes could cost Alpine dearly in the constructor’s standings. The fact that Briatore—the only team boss in modern F1 history convicted of a crime—holds so much sway makes the story more than just another driver reshuffle. Old wounds from paddock politics are opening up, as some within the team question whether performance or behind-the-scenes power moves are really at play.
Colapinto Steps Up, Doohan Left Waiting
With Doohan sent back to the sidelines, Franco Colapinto is getting the nod beside Pierre Gasly for the high-profile Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, and at least four more after. Colapinto already earned respect last year at Williams—he adapted quickly and kept his head even under immense pressure. Alpine’s bosses hope he’ll bring fresh energy, consistency, and, above all, minimize the expensive repair bills that dogged Doohan’s early races.
For Doohan, being relegated to reserve driver leaves his future in the hands of forces well beyond his driving ability. Yes, flashes of genuine raw pace popped up—just enough to keep fans and team insiders hopeful. But in Formula 1, a few costly errors and the wrong people calling the shots can erase even the most promising prospects overnight. With Briatore making the calls, every decision now feels up for debate—how much is about performance and how much is pure paddock power play?
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