While Formula 1 has always been tough on rookies, recently F1 has made a habit of chewing young drivers up and spitting them out whenever it pleases. Just Red Bull alone has gone through four rookies in the last six seasons, and that’s not including the drivers like Nyck Devries who didn’t even make it to the summer break at their junior team. Drivers that were once given a full season (or even two) to improve are now lucky if they get two races to show what they’re worth before being thrown to the side. 

Jack Doohan racing for Alpine in Abu Dhabi, 2024. (Photo via Alpine F1 Team)

Jack Doohan was sentenced before he’d even been put on trial. When Alpine made the decision to give Doohan Esteban Ocon’s car for the final race last season in Abu Dhabi, they opened him up to instant judgement by fans and journalists. Judgement is the name of the game in F1, but Jack Doohan was deemed not F1 material before his season even started because of one race. Doohan finished that race in 15th while his more experienced teammate Pierre Gasly finished in the points. It was not the best debut performance we’ve ever seen, but he did exactly what he was supposed to: keep the car out of trouble in the race and learn throughout the weekend. 

Over the winter break, Jack Doohan’s fate was the center of attention. It seemed like everyone was taking bets on how long he would last at Alpine, most agreeing he would be gone before the summer break. Alpine didn’t help the rumours with their comments and the signing of Franco Colapinto as reserve driver for the team. From that moment on, it was decided that Jack Doohan was destined to be replaced by Franco Colapinto, and Colapinto’s fans made that known. 

Jack Doohan driving for Alpine F1 Team (Photo via The Times)

Every time Alpine posted about Jack Doohan, the comments were filled with people making derogatory comments about him and stating their support for Colapinto. Doohan couldn’t escape the negative comments. While there is nothing wrong with showing support for your favorite driver, it quickly escalated into harassment. 

Doohan lost his seat to Colapinto six races into the season, but that didn’t put an end to the noise. After a fake post about Mick Doohan commenting on Franco Colapinto from a twitter account, the entire Doohan family started receiving threats and harassment. They were being attacked through social media, through their emails, and fans were even finding their addresses to further harass them. Jack Doohan had to make a post on his Instagram stating that this was unacceptable and his family shouldn’t be treated this way.

Jack Doohan’s crash at the Japanese GP. (Photo via ESPN)

Franco Colapinto was only guaranteed the seat by Alpine for five races. It is possible that Jack Doohan could be back in the second Alpine seat in a few races. This is not fair to either driver. From the moment the season started, Alpine refused to back Jack Doohan and never denied rumours of his limited time in the seat. Six races is not enough time to learn and improve as a rookie entering Formula 1. Franco Colapinto isn’t being given enough time either. Five races at a new team as a rookie with a handful of F1 races under his belt is not enough. 

By giving both drivers no security and no time in the seat, they aren’t providing either with the opportunity to settle into Formula 1. Doohan and Colapinto are being mistreated by Alpine, though Colapinto has not faced the same level of backlash that Doohan has. Jack Doohan’s performances were under scrutiny before day one, and he is still having to fight harassment from fans when he doesn’t even have a seat in Formula 1. 

Jack Doohan is just the latest in a long list of rookies who have been mistreated by the world of Formula 1, and it’s unacceptable. Teams are throwing away great drivers before they ever get the chance to prove they can be great in Formula 1. Jack Doohan won countless races in Formula 2 before becoming a full-time reserve driver for Alpine, and he continued to stand by them, even after receiving offers from other series. He’s a good driver, yet no one treated him as such. This treatment of young drivers simply cannot continue. It’s not good for the sport, and it’s not good for young talent.