“It is not easy”: Piastri speaks out after Doohan’s Alpine exit – Jack Doohan’s Formula One dream has suffered a sudden and painful blow. After just six Grands Prix with Alpine, the Australian rookie has been pulled out of the team and replaced by Franco Colapinto for at least the next five rounds. While the move had been widely speculated within the paddock, the reality of its confirmation sent shockwaves through the F1 community – particularly among Doohan’s fellow countrymen.
Oscar Piastri, now a title contender with McLaren and a close friend of Doohan, has given a heartfelt reaction to the news, highlighting the emotional and professional challenges of such a development.
Piastri praises Doohan’s achievements
Before Alpine officially confirmed the move, Piastri spoke to Wide World of Sports and urged fans and critics alike to recognise what Doohan has already achieved – despite the brevity of his time on the grid. “If this is the end of Jack’s journey, he can be very proud,” Piastri said. “First of all, to have made it to Formula 1 in the first place. It’s not easy, especially as an Australian. Nobody can take that away from him.
His comments reflect the rarity of Australian drivers breaking into F1, a journey made all the more difficult by geographical and financial barriers. Piastri, who also faced a steep climb to the top, understands the fragile nature of an F1 career.
He insisted that Doohan’s departure, while disappointing, should not be seen as a dead end. “There are a lot of tough decisions made behind the scenes in any F1 career,” Piastri explained. “But Jack should keep his head up. I believe he still has a successful career ahead of him.”
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Alpine turn to Colapinto
Alpine confirmed the change on Wednesday: Jack Doohan will step aside for the next five races, starting with the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola. His place will be taken by Argentinean Franco Colapinto, who impressed during a difficult stint with Williams last season.
Colapinto arrives at Alpine with considerable support and momentum. After scoring points in two of his nine appearances for a struggling Williams team in 2024, he moved into a reserve role at Alpine for 2025. That move came with significant financial backing, reportedly in the millions of euros, and has now translated into a real opportunity with the Renault-backed team.
He will take the wheel at Imola on 18 May and continue through a crucial stretch of the calendar that includes Monaco, Barcelona, Montreal and Spielberg. These five races will serve as a proving ground not only for Colapinto, but also for Alpine, who remain under scrutiny for their handling of junior talent and team management.
Doohan’s future uncertain, but not over
Doohan’s immediate future is unclear. Still only 22, he remains under contract with Alpine and could be re-signed depending on Colapinto’s performances or future team strategy. The son of five-time MotoGP World Champion Mick Doohan, Jack’s racing pedigree and early promise in the junior ranks has not gone unnoticed, and some within the paddock have expressed sympathy at his early departure.
The decision underlines how brutally competitive and financially driven modern Formula One has become. Rookies are expected to deliver results quickly – sometimes unrealistically so. Doohan’s failure to score points in six races ultimately left him vulnerable, despite flashes of potential and a car that struggled for consistency.
Support from the F1 community
Piastri’s message was more than just friendly encouragement – it was a reminder of how easily careers can be derailed in F1. And as someone who was once on the brink of being left without a seat, only to rise rapidly with McLaren, he knows the value of resilience.
“If this is just a pause in Jack’s career, I’m sure he’ll come back stronger than ever,” said Piastri. “He’s too talented not to.”
The next five races will now be under the microscope – not only for Colapinto, who is getting his long-awaited second chance, but also for Alpine, whose handling of talent has been questioned in recent years. Meanwhile, Jack Doohan will be watching from the sidelines, hoping that this setback is just another chapter in a still unfolding story.
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