Alpine Drops Rookie Doohan After Six Races Amid Rookie Criticism

Alpine's decision to replace rookie Jack Doohan after just six races of the 2025 Formula 1 season has drawn criticism from fellow rookies Oliver Bearman and Isack Hadjar, who argue the move was premature and unfair. Doohan, who struggled to score points amid the pressures of adapting to new tracks and sprint events, faced a difficult environment exacerbated by a performance clause allowing Alpine to bench him early. Bearman highlighted the challenge rookies face with limited practice time and the harshness of removing Doohan before the European season, where he would have been more comfortable. Hadjar sympathized with Doohan's situation, noting the intense expectations and contrasting support systems within teams, such as his own experience at Red Bull. Despite Alpine's official stance framing Colapinto's takeover as a temporary five-race evaluation, many believe Doohan was not given sufficient opportunity to prove his potential. The situation underscores the intense pressure on F1 rookies and raises questions about the fairness of early driver replacements in the sport.