Ocon and Bearman slam Alpine for treatment of ousted rookie, Doohan

16:17, 15 May

Updated: 17:48, 15 May

byNorberto Mujica

Esteban Ocon is not surprised at all by Alpine's demotion of Jack Doohan, as the Frenchman stated ahead of the race weekend in Imola.

Doohan and reserve driver Franco Colapinto swapped roles ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, a decision that sparked a great deal of controversy in the F1 paddock.

Ocon, a former driver of the French racing stable is not at all surprised by the decision, though, as he stated to, among others, GPblog.

Ocon Severely Critical of Alpine

"It's unfortunately not really any surprise from some of the decisions that have been taken recently from the team. But I don't have much to say. Obviously, sad for Jack. I'm sure he will be back in F1 at some point. He showed some really strong moments this year where he's qualified super well and he's been super quick in the car, which was good to see."

But, in other to make an omelette you have to break some eggs, and Colapinto, the Frenchman believes, deserved his - second - shot in F1 as well.

"On the other hand, also Franco deserves to be in F1. Last year he showed some great things with the Williams car and unfortunately there are not enough cars on the grid to fit all the talents that there are out there"

"But yeah, not much more to say. I'm happy where I am," Ocon concluded.

Jack Doohan and Flavio Briatore.

Ocon's Haas F1 teammate Oliver Bearman agrees with him. “I think it's very difficult in that situation to have that pressure weighing over your head already from race one”, he says in a conversation with, among others, GPblog.

"I can only imagine it's a horrible situation and I feel like his treatment was very unfair. Coming from his position, being a rookie myself, it's very difficult, especially the first half of the season, the first quarter of the season. We've gone to, I think, four out of six tracks have been new for us as rookies."

“We've had two sprint events which are even more difficult for us as rookies. Before you even get to the European season where they're the tracks he knows, he's already thrown out of the car. So yeah, incredibly harsh in my opinion”, concludes Bearman.