Schumacher: Alpine failing Doohan amid Colapinto replacement rumours

Ralf Schumacher has criticised Alpine for the way it is handling its rookie Jack Doohan, blaming the team for the Australian’s current struggles in Formula 1. 

Rumours that Doohan is likely to be replaced by reserve driver Franco Colapinto surfaced even before the 2025 season began, and the first three weekends have done little to dispel that threat.

Crashes in Australia and in the China sprint haven’t exactly strengthened Doohan’s position within the team, nor has his freak crash in FP2 at Suzuka.

So, the 22-year-old remains on zero points in 2025 and Sky Germany pundit Schumacher pondered whether Doohan would even remain as Alpine’s driver for this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

But no official announcement of his replacement has been made and it is likely that Doohan will remain in the car for Sakhir. 

However, Schumacher has questioned the level of support shown by Alpine and hinted that the team’s advisor Flavio Briatore would prefer someone else in the car.

That could pave the way for Colapinto, who was allowed to rack up mileage as part of the testing of previous car [TPC] regulation at Monza.

“Sorry, but if you don’t want to replace Doohan, why would you already let Colapinto drive [in the TPC test]?” Schumacher said on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast.

“It’s all piling up,” added the six-time grand prix winner, who believes Alpine isn’t handling the situation well.

Schumacher, who competed in F1 between 1997 and 2007, also could not understand why Alpine replaced Doohan with reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa for FP1 in Japan. Hirakawa even left Alpine immediately after the weekend. 

“First they didn’t let him [Doohan] drive, which is a disaster on a new track,” said Schumacher. “You can tell there’s no support from the team. They could’ve done that with Gasly in Bahrain instead.”

Schumacher still believes though that Doohan must take some blame for his tough start to the year, having also collected four penalty points in Shanghai for causing a collision and forcing another driver off track.

“He did the same in Formula 2,” said Schumacher. “He goes for gaps that aren’t really there.”

“But the blame lies with the team,” he added, passing the responsibility back to Alpine. “[Team boss] Oliver Oakes, who I’ve spoken with, feels the same way.”

Schumacher hopes Doohan is able to perform in Bahrain, adding: “That’s Formula 1: if he delivers a good result, then the whole debate disappears – at least for now. That should be his next goal.”