Alpine : what's the point of four reservists?

Here is a surprising choice: Alpine now has four reserve drivers. A questionable figure, especially in a context where testing is limited and teams only have four FP1s – double last year’s – to run their young talents. However, Alpine takes on this bet. His team principal, Oliver Oakes, justifies this choice by anticipation of the driver market. Paul (Aron) iswas already in our program, and the Franco opportunity (Colapinto) presented itself as a choice for the future. The driver market will evolve, and we wanted to have long-term options. Not to mention that we need these reserve drivers for the TPC tests (Previous Car test with two-season-old single-seaters. Editor’s note), the simulator, etc. Obviously, no regular driver likes to feel pressure behind him, but Pierre (gasly) and Jack (Doohan) know that they have our full support »

Gasly on the way out?

Full support, certainly, but Jack Doohan's future seems far from assured. Flavio Briatore, who plays a key role in the team's management, makes no secret of the fact that the Australian is under surveillance: " It started in Melbourne, and then we'll take stock of the situation. I see the drivers as the CEOs of the team: they're the ones who deliver the results. A thousand people work for them, so they have to feel responsible. Formula 1, the balance sheets are established every Sunday evening »

And the Australian GP does not plead in favor of the Queensland driver due to a crash on the 5th^e first lap corner. Doohan will have to show a completely different face at the next race in China if he wants to maintain his place in the Alpine. Then, the use of so many reserve drivers allows money to come into the team's coffers. The final, not-so-smoky theory: Alpine Could she be anticipating Pierre Gasly's departure to other climes? But who on this list seriously has the talent and skills to replace him?

ALSO READ > Oakes acknowledges thatAlpine did not put Doohan "in the best possible position" during the offseason