Jacques Villeneuve defends Alpine over 'inevitable' Jack Doohan axing

Jacques Villeneuve believes "the writing was there" for Jack Doohan after Alpine elected to drop the Australian for Franco Colapinto.

Doohan was stood down from the race seat alongside Pierre Gasly for at least the next five races, starting from Imola and lasting up to and including the Austrian GP so Argentine Colapinto can be evaluated. 

A number of F1 drivers have sharply criticised Alpine for the decision, believing Doohan, who out-qualified Gasly for the first time in a grand prix in Miami, should have been handed more time, given the difficult run to start the season, including a number of new circuits for Doohan, and two Sprint events.

However, the 1997 world champion believes Alpine's decision was just a matter of time.

"The writing was there, and sadly, Doohan just didn't do enough, didn't do what was necessary," Villeneuve told Sky Sports F1. 

"If you take football, he's been benched, and that is just the way it is. 

"This is F1, you are supposed to be quick enough to bring something to the table, and he wasn't. 

"He wasn't bringing sponsors, and wasn't bringing results."

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Mercedes comparison made to Alpine

Jamie Chadwick, the three-time W Series champion also offered her thoughts, and whilst she felt Doohan was hard done by, the Briton added that the change was an "inevitability" as she also made a Mercedes comparison. 

"I was actually quite impressed with Jack in his first few races, given that he came in as a complete rookie," she said.

"The problem is that he would have to set the world alight to [keep the seat] against someone like Colapinto who came in last year and really did blow the doors off a little, so you have to say it is an inevitability.

"From the team point of view, if they were going to do it, you kind of have to rip the band aid off and do it at some point and give Franco these races now, which I don't think is a bad thing.

"It is incredibly tough for Jack, who wasn't given the opportunity to show what he can do, particularly when you compare it to the way young, rookie drivers are handled at say, Mercedes, where they are much more protected."