Alpine responds to criticism on “straightforward” Ocon/Doohan swap

Alpine Components 1 staff principal Oliver Oakes acknowledged the late timing of swapping Esteban Ocon for Jack Doohan was “not excellent” however parried criticism on the “simple” determination itself.

Over the Qatar Grand Prix weekend, Alpine determined it was solely going to launch 2025 Haas signing Ocon to his new staff for Abu Dhabi’s winter check on the situation that Ocon ceded his spot to his alternative Jack Doohan in what would have been his last race for Alpine.

That quid professional quo was understood to be a last-minute name initiated by Alpine advisor Flavio Briatore after Ocon’s launch for subsequent Tuesday’s check had already been agreed with Haas for some weeks. 

On Monday it was confirmed Ocon had agreed to step down, a choice which brought about some friction as a result of the Frenchman had already deliberate a particular tribute helmet to say farewell to the Enstone staff he raced with for 5 seasons, taking to social media to say his untimely exit was “not how I needed issues to finish”.

Talking to Autosport in Abu Dhabi, staff boss Oakes admitted the timing of the motive force swap was removed from preferrred, however he insisted the transfer continues to be the suitable name for all events concerned as each Doohan and Ocon can get a head begin on their 2025 programme.

“Nothing’s excellent in F1 and from either side that might have all been sorted out earlier, however that is not how everybody works,” Oakes admitted. “Now we have to do what’s proper for the staff.

“The place I get a bit pissed off with it’s that everybody’s developing with their completely different theories. However for me, it is simple. He needed to do the check along with his new staff. No worries, thanks. You’ve got been actually good with us, and we actually recognize every thing you have performed for us.

“It is in our curiosity to get Jack within the automobile a lot earlier. That is a win for us. Lots of people have made much more out of that than they wanted to.”

Oakes mentioned the cameos made by different younger drivers over the season, together with Haas’ spectacular Oliver Bearman, exhibits the large upside of giving Doohan an earlier grand prix debut, with the Australian having solely undertaken FP1 and personal testing outings to this point.

“I feel you have seen this yr the advantage of getting rookies into the automobile earlier,” he mentioned. “Two or three of these groups we’ll be combating with subsequent yr [have done so], so we’ve got to actually do what’s proper for us. It is fairly easy. For us, it is an actual benefit to get Jack within the automobile earlier.”

Alpine is barely 5 factors forward of Haas within the standings forward of this weekend’s season finale, and whereas Oakes shouldn’t be suggesting the 28-year-old would do something untoward to learn his future employer, for the staff it’s higher to be secure than sorry.

Ocon has struggled for tempo in comparison with team-mate Pierre Gasly in latest races, so the staff felt placing Doohan in for Abu Dhabi wouldn’t essentially have an effect on the staff’s scoring potential because it battles each Haas and RB for sixth.

“We’re combating the staff Esteban goes to for P6, so there’s a component of sanity examine in that as properly,” he acknowledged. “I feel [looking at] the previous couple of weekends, it would not be improper to say there’s not an enormous threat there in switching Jack and Esteban with the form of outcomes as properly.

“Whether or not he is checked out already or whether or not the [latest] improve simply did not go well with him, who is aware of. From my standpoint he is clearly driver and he delivered a robust lead to Brazil.

“I feel Pierre had the legs on him just a little bit with the upgrades. However that is regular, we see that up and down the grid. From my aspect he is undoubtedly driver.

“He is undoubtedly going to be a thorn in our aspect subsequent yr, as a result of Haas is having season as properly. So, I want him properly.”

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