With Oliver Oakes resigning from the Alpine F1 Team out of thin air, there are a lot of questions that are being asked. One of the main questions is why he left. One strong theory links this story to Jack Doohan potentially being replaced.
After the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, multiple sources suggested that Jack Doohan will be replaced by Franco Colapinto ahead of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, which is the next race on the calendar. Just as fans were expecting this news to break out of Alpine, Oliver Oakes resigned from the team. Given the facts, it’s hard to believe that it was just a coincidence.
Was Jack Doohan the reason for Oliver Oakes’ exit from Alpine?
Ever since Alpine signed Colapinto as a reserve driver, Doohan has been put under a microscope in every race. After 6 races, it doesn’t seem like Alpine is impressed. He has yet to score a point, and his best finish was P13 in China. His teammate, Pierre Gasly, has scored 7 points and is sitting P12 in the Championship.
It is no secret that Flavio Briatore prefers Colapinto for the Alpine seat. Now that Doohan has not scored a point yet, Flavio is looking at this as an opportunity to replace the Australian driver with Franco. But it doesn’t look like Oliver Oakes liked this move.
BREAKING: Oliver Oakes Resigns as Alpine F1 Team Principal, Flavio Briatore Takes Charge
Oakes could have been against replacing Doohan, as he has driven only at weekends in F1. Oakes could have felt that Doohan could improve more with more experience, and that replacing him so early in the season could destroy his confidence and career as an F1 driver. However, according to the reports that have been coming out since the Miami Grand Prix, it looks likely that Colapinto will be driving the A525 for Alpine in Imola.
Not liking this decision, Oakes could have decided to resign from his position as team principal, handing over the reigns to Flavio Briatore.
Is Franco Colapinto confirmed as Jack Doohan’s replacement for Imola?
As it stands, there is no official confirmation that Franco Colalpinto will replace Jack Doohan in Imola. However, many reputable sources, including Sky Sports and BBC, have reported that it has been unofficially confirmed. The only thing that we await is the official confirmation from Alpine.
There is no doubt that Franco Colapinto is an exceptional talent in F1. Last year, he stepped into the Williams F1 car to replace Logan Sargeant and had a rather successful season, scoring points in just his 2nd race in an underperforming car. So far, Doohan has not been able to do the same.
While this may look like the right choice on paper, it is not fair to Jack Doohan. The Alpine F1 Team committed to Doohan as their driver for the 2025 season. Given that he is young and still learning, the team should give him more time to learn and grow in F1. By replacing him after just 6 races, the team could destroy Doohan’s confidence and career.
Has Jack Doohan Done Enough to Secure Alpine Seat for the Remainder of the Season?
We saw something similar happen to Liam Lawson earlier this season. He was chosen to drive the Red Bull Racing car alongside Max Verstappen for this year, only to be demoted back to Racing Bulls after just 2 races. Lawson’s performances with Racing Bulls have since deteriorated when compared to his performances last year.
With Oakes no longer at the helm, it looks likely that Briatore would choose Colapinto to replace Doohan from Imola. Do you think this is the right choice for the team and the drivers? Post your thoughts in the comments section below.
