Speculation over Doohan’s future is “not fair”, says Alpine team boss Oakes · RaceFans

Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes is unhappy with the speculation surrounding the future of his new driver Jack Doohan.

The 22-year-old starts his first full Formula 1 season this year, having made a one-off appearance for the team at the end of last season.

However even before Doohan’s first race, claims spread that Alpine’s executive consultant Flavio Briatore wanted to put Franco Colapinto in his seat.

Alpine has since signed Colapinto from Williams and agreed a deal with his sponsor Mercado Libre. Briatore has promoted Colapinto’s presence, sharing video of his first test behind closed doors on social media, which was not officially distributed by the team.

Oakes, who became Alpine’s team principal in the middle of last year, praised Doohan’s focus ahead of the new season amid the ensuing speculation he might be dropped before the end of it.

“I feel for him quite a lot at the moment,” Oakes told Sky. “He’s getting a bit of flak and it’s not fair.

“At the end of the day, he’s getting his debut in F1 – I mean, he’s had his debut in Abu Dhabi, but it’s his first sort of full year. And I think it’s been a quiet winter so [for] everybody, obviously, that’s been a news story. Franco, he’s a popular kid as well, so people want to see him in the car.”

Doohan drove for the team in this morning’s test at Bahrain International Circuit.

“From my side, it’s really good to have Jack with us,” said Oakes. “He’s come from our academy. He did a good job in Abu Dhabi and even this morning he hit the ground running straight away.

“So I think credit to him as well because he’s sort of just shutting all that noise out and getting on with it, which is really good.”