Mick Doohan says Alpine unfairly dropped his son Jack

Jack Doohan’s brief rise to Alpine’s 2025 race seat has turned into a cautionary tale. Five‑time MotoGP champion Mick Doohan says Alpine pre‑planned his son’s removal, despite a multi‑year junior contract, and that the decision was made behind closed doors. Jack now only has a reserve role at Haas.

Why it matters:

Alpine’s handling of a home‑grown talent threatens its reputation as a development hub and could deter other junior drivers from committing to the team. The episode also fuels a wider debate about transparency and contract enforcement in F1, where driver stability is essential for career progression and sponsor confidence.

The details:

• Junior contract – Jack was Alpine’s first junior driver to graduate to a race seat, signing a multi‑year deal and set to partner Pierre Gasly in 2025.
• Sudden swap – After six races, Franco Colapinto, backed by Argentine investors and Flavio Briatore, replaced Jack from the Emilia‑Romagna Grand Prix onward.
• Father’s claim – Mick Doohan called the move “unfair,” alleging it was pre‑planned and that Jack’s contract was ignored.
• Aftermath – Jack failed to land a Super Formula seat, then took a reserve role at Haas and returned to endurance racing in the European Le Mans Series.

What's next:

Jack now looks to prove himself as Haas’s reserve driver, hoping a full‑time seat opens for 2026. Alpine must reassure its junior program that contracts will be honoured, or risk losing future talent. The FIA may also scrutinise team driver‑selection practices to safeguard fairness.