The Formula 1 driver’s market is always one of the most interesting parts of the season away from the track.
All 20 drivers are confirmed for the 2025 season with the grid looking very different to 12 months ago.
Only McLaren and Aston Martin didn’t dive into the market to change either of their drivers, while six racers will be beginning their first full seasons in Formula 1 this year.
Oliver Bearman believes he’s still a rookie despite F1 technically not classing him as one after racing three times for Ferrari and Haas last year.
Liam Lawson has 11 Grand Prix under his belt but will be racing on several tracks at the beginning of the season for the very first time which he believes will make his start to life at Red Bull particularly challenging.
Alpine driver Jack Doohan is the other youngster who has already made his debut after receiving a late call-up to replace Esteban Ocon for last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Alongside Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) and Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber), these six drivers will create an interesting subplot throughout 2025 to see how quickly each of them adapts to life in Formula 1.
Otmar Szafnauer thinks Jack Doohan could ‘for sure’ be replaced at Alpine
Former team principal Otmar Szafnauer was asked on The Team Principal Podcast how harmonious the Alpine pairing would be this season and joked that it would be ‘even more harmonious’ than last season due to Esteban Ocon moving on.
He continued: “Automatically [it will be more harmonious] with Jack Doohan.
“A good rookie, a race winner in the past, and has done a lot of miles in the TPC [testing of previous cars] program, so he’ll be ready. Yeah, harmonious.”
READ MORE: Who is Alpine F1 driver Jack Doohan? All to know from his girlfriend to dad
Szafnauer was then asked about Franco Colapinto’s arrival at Alpine and whether he could see a mid-season driver change and replied: “Look, I can foresee that happening for sure.
“It all depends on the driver’s personality whether they respond more to a threat as opposed to support.
“Some, you’ve got to arms around them and support them to make them better, and others, they respond better to a threat of competition, if I don’t do well, somebody is waiting in the wings to take my seat.
“I don’t know if that was the plan at Alpine but you say that’s what Williams think and Colapinto did a good job, especially at the beginning when he took over from Sargeant, he was straightaway on the pace and he’s got the capability of stepping in and being quick straightaway, so let’s see what happens.
“Jack’s not overly emotional, so he will just do the best he can and not worry about it.”
Alpine did Jack Doohan no favours with Franco Colapinto announcement during F1 75 launch event
Doohan is said to only have a short-term contract at Alpine that could see him be replaced as soon as the Miami Grand Prix.
It means every race counts and any mistakes during the first few weekends could be detrimental to his future in Formula 1.
The young Australian battled questions about his future away expertly during the F1 75 launch event before the press officer stepped in to move things along.
READ MORE: All you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage
However, minutes after Doohan and teammate Pierre Gasly finished speaking to journalists, Alpine announced a sponsorship deal with Mercato Libre – one of Colapinto’s biggest backers from his time at Williams.
Mercado Libre 🤝 BWT Alpine Formula One Team
We’re pleased to announce that @Mercadolibre, the leading e-commerce platform in Latin America, joins as a partner of the Team 💛 pic.twitter.com/8kXFqhpY4n
— BWT Alpine Formula One Team (@AlpineF1Team) February 18, 2025
The timing of the announcement couldn’t have been worse for Doohan given the questions he had just faced.
Every Alpine social post is followed by hundreds of comments from Colapinto fans urging the team to make the switch.
Alpine have 90 Grand Prix starts during their Formula 1 history, all eyes are on whether Gasly will be partnered by Doohan or Colapinto by the time they reach 100.
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