- Isack Hadjar and Oliver Bearman feel for Jack Doohan
- Both believe Alpine made Aussie an easy scapegoat
- Oscar Piastri is race favourite in Italy this weekend
A number of F1 stars have leapt to the defence of Jack Doohan following his sacking by Alpine, adamant the decision was ‘harsh’ and ‘very unfair.’
It comes as fellow Aussie and championship leader Oscar Piastri looms as the man to beat in Italy on Sunday after winning four of the past five races.
Doohan, 22, won’t be racing this weekend following his demotion – and fellow rookies Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) and Oliver Bearman (Haas) believe the son of moto legend Mick Doohan was a recent scapegoat for Alpine’s poor start in 2025.
‘Even before the season, it smelled a bit bad, because I think he entered with a lot of pressure, expectations,’ Hadjar said.
‘So not a really good environment. ‘And it feels quite unfair, because six races in, he didn’t have much time to show anything.
‘It’s not that he had a rocket ship as well. So, yeah, a bit harsh.’
A number of F1 stars have leapt to the defence of Jack Doohan (pictured) following his sacking by Alpine, adamant the decision was ‘harsh’ and ‘very unfair’
It comes as fellow Aussie and championship leader Oscar Piastri (pictured) looms as the man to beat in Italy on Sunday after winning four of the past five races
Doohan has a supporter in Haas young gun Oliver Bearman, who felt the Aussie was on borrowed time at Alpine
Bearman was on the same page – and is relieved he isn’t personally racing ‘with a gun to my head.’
‘I can understand when you’re Red Bull, you want to fight for the world championship, so this makes sense (to make changes) maybe in the top team,’ he said.
‘But otherwise if you want your rookie to have experience, then you need to give him races. Otherwise he can’t race.’
Alpine are languishing in second-last in the constructors’ championship with just seven points after six races.
Doohan will be replaced by Argentina’s Franco Colapinto for at least the next five events.
Meanwhile, Piastri has declared Sunday’s race isn’t just a showdown between himself and McLaren teammate Lando Norris.
‘I don’t think it’s just Lando and me,’ Piastri said after the pair dominated the field during Friday’s practice sessions in Imola, Italy.
‘There are a few others who will join us in the fight so we have got to keep our heads down and find a bit more.
‘Imola is a place where qualifying means a lot.’
The Italian Grand Prix begins on Sunday, May 18 from 11pm AEST.
