F1 star to be brutally axed after just six races following Miami Grand Prix crash

Alpine have opted to make a change with their drivers having scored just seven points all season after a miserable Miami Grand Prix weekend for the French constructor

Alpine have axed driver Jack Doohan after just six races, with the rookie to be replaced by Franco Colapinto for the rest of the season. This is Doohan’s first season in Formula 1 but the Australian has struggled badly.

The 22-year-old is yet to earn a point and has been involved in a succession of crashes. His latest incident came in Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix when he collided with Liam Lawson at the first corner.

The crash saw Doohan’s front left tyre come off its rim and the Alpine man was forced to retire. Doohan has been racing in the shadow of Colapinto all season, with the Argentine signed as Alpine’s reserve driver at the start of the year.

The 21-year-old starred for Williams after replacing Logan Sargeant midway through last season. He delivered a number of impressive results for the storied team, but they had no space for him with Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz already under contract.

That left the Argentine without a seat but he now looks set to make a quick return to the grid ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in a fortnight. Colapinto will return at the expense of Doohan.

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According to The Times, Doohan was informed he was being dropped following the race in Miami. He had been part of Alpine’s academy since 2022 and looks set to be moved into a lesser role.

While Alpine were keen to assess Doohan’s abilities, they have now decided to move on. That has opened a place for current reserve driver Colapinto, who will now be promoted from the race in Imola on 18 May.

Alpine’s executive advisor Flavio Briatore has been pushing for Colapinto since last November. As well as his pace, Colapinto offers huge commercial opportunities from his native Argentina.

Doohan’s team-mate Pierre Gasly has only been able to score seven points in what has been a desperately disappointing season for Alpine. The Frenchman finished 13th in Miami and team principal Oliver Oakes declined to slap down rumours around Doohan’s future.

“As it is today, Jack is our driver, along with Pierre [Gasly],” he said. “We leave Miami disappointed where ultimately, we lacked performance to be competitive enough to fight for points.

“Although we did not come away from Miami empty-handed, picking up one point in the Sprint. Pierre was not happy with how the car felt in Qualifying and given his starting position we opted to make changes to his car and start from the pitlane.

“The forecasted rain missed the circuit, so in a conventional dry race we tried to make progress and pitted Pierre under the second VSC. Although we made up several positions ultimately it was only good enough for 13th.

“Jack’s race unfortunately ended on the first lap after contact with Lawson at Turn 1. We have some time now between races to understand where we can improve and come back with some more performance for the European triple-header starting in Imola.”