Alpine boss Oliver Oakes praises Jack Doohan following Bahrain check, notably the way in which he has dealt with the media.
Already beneath stress, forward of his first season in F1, the Australian’s trigger wasn’t helped when Argentine hot-shot, Franco Colapinto was signed because the French workforce’s reserve driver.
As ever, Flavio Briatore was fast to pour gas on the smouldering leaves, claiming that he could not assure Doohan’s seat for the complete season.
Consequently, versus focussing on Melbourne, Doohan has been pressured to spend a lot of his time batting away questions from the media about his future, whereas the feedback from ‘followers’ of Colapinto on social media have not helped.
Nonetheless, not solely has the Australian handled the media nicely, he put in a powerful efficiency throughout pre-season testing, his race simulation on the penultimate day suggesting that Alpine may very well be battling Williams for the ‘better of the remainder’ title this 12 months.
Talking because the check got here to an finish, workforce boss Oakes mentioned he was pleased with the teen and the way in which he has dealt with every part.
“I used to be fairly pleased with him being punchy with you all,” he replied, when requested if the seat was Doohan’s for the season. “I really really feel for him, as a result of I get that everyone needs the clickbait and that is a dialogue subject. However I believe additionally he must be given a little bit of house to only get on with it for just a few rounds.
“I believe he is accomplished a extremely good job of simply blocking out the noise and getting on with it,” he added.
“I get everyone has an opinion, everybody generally is a keyboard warrior as nicely,” he continued, “nevertheless it’s quite simple although, is not it? We’re right here to go racing, we wish the perfect driver within the automobile, the perfect engine within the automobile.
“Flavio mentioned it did not he, we’re beginning the season with Jack and Pierre after which let’s have a look at the way it all goes. I believe we have been actually sincere as a workforce as to what we’re doing. I am fairly chilled with it, Jack simply will get on with it and likewise lets the workforce get on with it.
“Our goal is to proceed the place we ended up on the finish of final 12 months, we form of need to be clipping on the heels of these entrance groups. Each drivers have been fairly proud of the automobile.”
