The most under-pressure driver in the Formula 1 paddock isn’t seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton at his new employer Ferrari or his teenage replacement at Mercedes Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Instead, Alpine have created a situation where young Australian driver Jack Doohan appears to be fighting for his Formula 1 career despite only having taken part in a single Grand Prix.
The final triple-header of the season couldn’t have gone worse for Esteban Ocon ahead of his move to Haas.
He finished 17th in Las Vegas before being involved in a crash on the opening lap in Qatar, although before the race had even finished, rumours were circulating that Ocon would be replaced by Doohan in Abu Dhabi.
The swap was announced in the following days and suddenly Doohan was being thrust into Ocon’s Alpine for the final race of the season with millions of pounds in prize money at stake.
Doohan had a difficult debut according to Jolyon Palmer, but at least he had a full season in F1 to look forward to in 2025, at least that’s what many thought.
Instead, it has now transpired that Doohan’s contract may only run for several races and he faces even more pressure after the winter signing of Franco Colapinto from Williams.
Journalist Nate Saunders, speaking on the Formula Fantasy Hub YouTube channel, has explained when he thinks an inevitable swap will take place at Alpine between Doohan and Colapinto.
Franco Colapinto expected to replace Jack Doohan by the Miami Grand Prix
Talking about the rookies entering the sport in 2025, Saunders was going through them one by one before reaching the Australian and explaining: “I’m really concerned for Doohan.
“I think he’s in a really bad kind of situation there because, let’s face it, from everything I’ve heard, it does seem very likely that Alpine will try and put Colapinto in sooner rather than later.
“And you just can’t do much with a handful of races, but that’s Formula 1 and that’s Flavio Briatore who Alpine have brought back, that’s always been his MO, like, if you don’t perform, you’re out.
“There’s no sentiment there at all, so he’s probably the guy you fear for the most going into this season for that reason.
READ MORE: Who is Alpine F1 driver Jack Doohan? All to know from his girlfriend to dad
“My understanding is that it’s a two-year deal [Colapinto’s Williams loan] and then there’s options for extra ones.
“The prevailing consensus is that Colapinto…I think Colapinto is a bit like Kimi Antonelli.
“I think his highs are going to be super, super high but you’re going to have some races where, like in Vegas, he just clipped the inside wall, has a crash kind of out of nowhere, pushing way too hard.
“I do feel for Doohan, he’s kind of a victim of circumstance and a wave of history but, we’ll see.
“My hunch is by Miami we’ll have Colapinto in which in itself is kind of a fun story but it’s harsh whenever a driver has to make way for that kind of thing.”
Otmar Szafnauer makes worrying Jack Doohan prediction going into 2025
Doohan will be well aware that the only way he can guarantee he retains his seat is by putting in a level of performance that would make dropping him inexcusable.
Colapinto is inexperienced but has still taken part in eight more Grand Prix than Doohan, although the Australian’s extensive private testing program last year means he’s much more experienced when it comes to driving Alpine’s cars.
Pierre Gasly has seen positive signs from Doohan already and was pleased with the simulator work he did last season.
READ MORE: Who is Alpine reserve driver Franco Colapinto? Everything to know
However, whether that translates into points-scoring finishes is yet to be seen and former Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer has admitted he could see Colapinto replacing Doohan this year.
Flavio Briatore wouldn’t have signed Colapinto if he didn’t want to at least put pressure on Doohan to perform, but all the signs – including the latest sponsors Alpine have acquired – suggest the Argentine might not be waiting long for his second F1 debut.
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