Damon Hill issues seven-word verdict as Alpine prepare to replace Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto

Alpine look set to bring Jack Doohan’s time as a Formula 1 driver to an end after just seven Grand Prix starts.

F1 Oversteer understands Alpine are set to replace Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto after an underwhelming start to his rookie season.

Alpine promoted Doohan from his role as reserve driver at the end of the 2024 season.

After years of working his way through the ranks as an Alpine junior, simulator and reserve driver, the 22-year-old made his debut at last season’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

He then got a full pre-season under his belt ahead of his home race in Australia, but his preparations were far from straightforward.

Team principal Oliver Oakes and executive advisor Flavio Briatore brought in a host of reserve drivers including the highly-rated Paul Aron and Colapinto.

However, while this season has contained some positives for Doohan, there have been too many downsides as well.

He had big crashes in Australia and Japan and has picked up more penalty points than world championship points after six race weekends.

Damon Hill has now reacted to the news that Doohan’s time on the grid appears to already be over ahead of the upcoming triple header starting at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola.

READ MORE: Who is Alpine F1 driver Jack Doohan? All to know from his girlfriend to dad

Damon Hill tells F1 drivers they ‘need better contracts’ as Alpine prepare to replace Jack Doohan

Doohan managed to put in arguably his best qualifying performance of the season on Saturday at the Miami Grand Prix.

Teammate Pierre Gasly was eliminated in Q1 but the Australian progressed to the next session, starting the race in 14th.

Unfortunately, he got squeezed going into the first corner and made contact with Liam Lawson, effectively ending both of their races.

Responding to the news that Doohan is set to be replaced, Hill to social media and simply said, “Looks like some drivers need better contracts!”

He’s not the first driver to be replaced this season after Lawson was swapped out by Red Bull for Yuki Tsunoda after just two races.

The problem for Doohan is he doesn’t have a sister F1 team to fall back on once Colapinto takes his seat.

READ MORE: Who is Alpine reserve driver Franco Colapinto? Everything to know

Damon Hill predicted tough start for Jack Doohan ahead of the 2025 F1 season

It’s been known since the winter break that Doohan was already under pressure at Alpine.

The presence of Colapinto in the background, and Williams’ expectance that the move would give the Argentine a better chance of racing in Formula 1 over the next two seasons, should have set alarm bells ringing within the Doohan camp.

Before the season started, Hill admitted Doohan was in an uncomfortable position at Alpine.

He faced calls from several pundits and other figures in F1 that his days might be numbers.

Helmut Marko called Doohan a C-grade driver when analysing all the rookies this season, while Ralf Schumacher warned Alpine that Doohan wasn’t up to scratch, although the fact his nephew Mick missed out on the seat might have something to do with that.

Formula 1 is a brutal business, especially for rookie drivers, and if and when the switch is confirmed, the pressure will immediately be shifted onto Colapinto.