Jack Doohan is under incredible pressure to keep his F1 career alive. The Aussie has only made one race start and is already at risk of losing his seat in 2025.
Alpine opted to promote Doohan to a full-time race seat this season after serving as their reserve driver in 2024. The 22-year-old has replaced Esteban Ocon and will partner with Pierre Gasly – a tough teammate to face given his form in the final few races of last year.
Despite being given the seat, the Aussie’s long-term future appears to be in jeopardy. Doohan allegedly only has a six-race contract, which is nowhere near enough time to prove himself in F1.
But it seems Alpine have other plans for the future. The Enstone-based outfit have been highly active in the driver market already in 2025, with Flavio Briatore recruiting Franco Colapinto as reserve driver on a multi-year deal.
Rumours have been swirling around the paddock that the Argentine is set to take the second Alpine seat next to Gasly. Journalist Nate Saunders has a ‘hunch’ that Colapinto could replace Doohan from Miami onwards.
But Alpine have reiterated their commitment to Doohan as he prepares for his first full assault of F1.
Alpine did not want Jack Doohan doing one-to-one interviews in Bahrain testing
Doohan has impressed Alpine behind the scenes in testing, putting in some encouraging laps in old machinery and the simulator. Doohan outpaced George Russell in a Pirelli tyre test in Barcelona – although that should not count for much at this stage.
Pre-season testing in Bahrain gave a good indication of where Alpine were heading into 2025. The Enstone-based outfit are looking to build upon a strong end to last season which saw them snatch sixth in the constructors’ championship.
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As a rookie, Doohan will need to get accustomed to the A525 and the team in general – and Alpine wanted him fully focused on that task.
Amid the speculation about his future and the pressure from Colapinto, journalist Ian Parkes shared that the Aussie did not do any one-to-one interviews with the media in Bahrain.
“They’ve very much kept Jack under wraps in terms of his media commitments over these few days,” Parkes said in Bahrain via RacingNews365
“I know that they would not want him doing any one-to-one interviews at all and the only media sessions that he’s actually done has been in the drivers’ press conference.
“So as I say, they wanted him to focus totally on the job at hand, getting up to speed with the team as much as he possibly can because there is obviously this pressure upon him following the signing of Franco Colapinto as a reserve driver.”
How has Jack Doohan responded to questions from the media about Franco Colapinto?
Understandably, the rumours surrounding Doohan and whether Colapinto could replace him in 2025 have grabbed the attention of the world media. Many are searching for answers about the Aussie’s supposed short-term contract and if he could be axed before the end of the year.
Doohan snapped at questions about Colapinto at the F1 75 launch event, stating that the Argentine is the team’s reserve driver. Alpine’s PR officer later blocked any further questions on the matter.
Craig Slater says Doohan enjoyed getting punchy with the media in Bahrain when asked about Colapinto. It may have lit a fire in the 22-year-old to perform and keep the Argentine on the sidelines.
Team principal Oliver Oakes responded to the rumours in Bahrain, claiming it was not fair on Doohan and aimed criticism at the media for the grilling he has received.
Ted Kravitz responded to Oakes’ comments, stating that it was not the media who signed Colapinto to Alpine and put pressure on Doohan before his first full season in F1.
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