The Formula 1 driver market has already been active in the 2025 season. It could spring into action again before the Miami Grand Prix.
The driver market was sent into chaos after just two races of the season. Liam Lawson was dropped by Red Bull and sent back to Racing Bulls, with Yuki Tsunoda replacing him.
Lawson failed to reach Q2 or score a point in Melbourne and Shanghai as he became the latest Red Bull driver to struggle with their car’s sensitive setup. Even Verstappen was, and still is, having trouble with the RB21, but his teammate was noticeably off the pace.
Christian Horner saved Lawson from being dropped after his debut in Australia – crashing out in the wet conditions was too much for Helmut Marko. He was afforded a second chance in China, but qualified last twice.
It took just two Grand Prix before 2025 saw its first mid-season driver change – there were a total of six in 2024, if one includes Oliver Bearman’s three sub appearances. Before round six, there could be another.
Alpine are in a state of chaos as Jack Doohan’s future is still uncertain
Jack Doohan has been fighting to stay in F1 since joining Alpine at the end of 2024. The Aussie has been under pressure from Franco Colapinto since Flavio Briatore signed the Argentine as the team’s reserve driver.
While Colapinto has a long-term contract, Doohan is alleged to have a six-race deal. In theory, after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, those races are up.
Journalist Nate Saunders has a ‘hunch’ that Colapinto will replace Doohan in Miami, with his performances to date leaving something to be desired. The 22-year-old has yet to score in 2025 and has suffered two costly accidents in Australia and Japan.
After Doohan finished 17th in Jeddah while teammate Pierre Gasly crashed after a few corners, Alpine had ‘long faces’ in the hospitality. It has heightened rumours that Colapinto could be brought in for Miami, but journalist Leonardo Regueira says the Argentine has been given ‘radio silence’ on the matter.
“Yesterday the climate in the Alpine hospitality was one of long faces. Whether it was discussed or not, it was difficult to know, but yes, there were long faces,” he said via Carburando.
“And that added a little more to what was happening with Doohan because of the confirmation that he is not at the level he wants. From then on, radio silence.
“That is what they tell me. Neither Franco himself knows if he will be in Miami or as a reserve. That is the information, nor does he know if he will travel to Miami as a reserve.”
READ MORE: Who is Alpine F1 driver Jack Doohan? All to know from his girlfriend to dad
Is Jack Doohan being afforded more time at Alpine?
Colapinto is ‘very bored’ behind the scenes at Alpine as he awaits his opportunity. Doohan’s struggles in 2025 will have given him hope that he can return to the grid.
Briatore has a ‘good argument’ to drop Doohan, with his crashes proving damaging to the budget cap. But it seems the Enstone outfit are going against the Italian’s judgement.
Alpine are set to give Doohan until the summer to prove his worth. The Aussie has been close to Gasly in pace, with many engineers believing he is not far away in terms of his development.
But it is clear he needs to start finding some results. A highest finish of 13th in China is not a good look, especially when Gasly has scored Alpine six points after five races.
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