Alpine parries criticism on “easy” Ocon/Doohan F1 swap

Alpine Formulation 1 group principal Oliver Oakes acknowledged the late timing of swapping Esteban Ocon for Jack Doohan was “not good” however parried criticism on the “easy” choice itself.

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

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 take a look at had already been agreed with Haas for some weeks. 

On Monday it was confirmed Ocon had agreed to step down, a choice which prompted some friction as a result of the Frenchman had already deliberate a particular tribute helmet to say farewell to the Enstone group 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 Motorsport.com in Abu Dhabi, group boss Oakes admitted the timing of the motive force swap was removed from ideally suited, however he insisted the transfer remains to be the proper name for all events concerned as each Doohan and Ocon can get a head begin on their 2025 programme.

“Nothing’s good in F1 and from either side that would have all been sorted out earlier, however that is not how everybody works,” Oakes admitted. “And now we have to do what’s proper for the group.

“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 easy. He needed to do the take a look at along with his new group. No worries, thanks. You’ve got been actually good with us, and we actually admire every thing you have accomplished for us.

“And 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, on the finish of the day.”

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

“I feel you have seen this 12 months the good thing about getting rookies into the automobile earlier,” he mentioned. “And two or three of these groups we’ll be preventing with subsequent 12 months [have done so], so now we have 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 isn’t suggesting the 28-year-old would do something untoward to learn his future employer, for the group it’s higher to be protected than sorry.

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

“We’re preventing the group Esteban goes to for P6, so there’s a component of sanity examine in that as nicely,” he acknowledged. “And I feel [looking at] the previous few weekends, it would not be incorrect to say there’s not a giant threat there in switching Jack and Esteban with the type of outcomes as nicely.”

“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 a superb driver and he delivered a powerful end in Brazil.

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

“He is undoubtedly going to be a thorn in our aspect subsequent 12 months, as a result of Haas is having a superb season as nicely. So, I want him nicely.”