Formula 1 technical expert Gary Anderson fears a team will run a ‘one-car’ operation in 2025 with doubts still hovering over the ‘level’ of the driver they have only just signed.
A number of drivers have moved around the grid since the conclusion of the 2024 season in December. Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was the headline change after the Briton opted to leave Mercedes after 12 seasons and, in doing so, even force Carlos Sainz to join Williams.
Ferrari, Mercedes and Williams are far from alone in having new names make their F1 driver line-ups in 2025, though. Alpine, Haas, Racing Bulls, Red Bull and Sauber will even have new drivers in their line-ups, with only McLaren and Aston Martin keeping their pilots from 2024.
Alpine will be a ‘one-car team’ after Jack Doohan replaced Esteban Ocon
But ex-Jordan and Jaguar technical director Anderson fears Alpine will be a ‘one-car team’ in 2025 after promoting reserve driver Jack Doohan to replace Haas recruit Esteban Ocon. He expects the Enstone outfit will have to rely on Pierre Gasly to lead them for most of the year.
Alpine axed Ocon early to debut Doohan in the 2024 season-finale Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as part of an agreement for the former to test with Haas at the Yas Marina Circuit. Doohan was set to make his Formula 1 debut at home in the 2025 season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
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But Anderson questions what sort of impact Doohan can offer Alpine, who took fifth place in the 2024 constructors’ standings. He is not sure if the Gold Coast, Queensland native is at the same ‘level’ as drivers like Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who replaced Hamilton for Mercedes.
“I fear Alpine will struggle as a one-car team for a fair amount of the season,” Anderson told The Race. “Rookie Jack Doohan is ok but I don’t think he is at the ‘Antonelli’ level.
“Gasly and the car came of age at the end of 2024. So, if they can continue that upward slope, he will be scoring big points and knocking on the door of the podium occasionally. But I wouldn’t expect it every race weekend.”
Jack Doohan will fear being the Sergio Perez of 2025 with his Alpine seat at risk
Doohan had not raced in any series last year before he replaced Ocon and secured P15 with Gasly achieving P7 in Abu Dhabi. He also does not have any junior titles on the 21-year-old’s CV after coming second for the 2019/20 F3 Asian and 2021 F3 titles plus third in F2 in 2023.
The Australian is even under immediate pressure to secure his future on the Formula 1 grid, beyond having a contract for just the 2025 campaign. Executive adviser Flavio Briatore could sack Doohan if he struggles at Alpine with drivers like Franco Colapinto of Williams available.
So, Doohan will absolutely fear being the Sergio Perez of 2025 after the Mexican’s woes last year cost him a drive at Red Bull, despite having a contract for 2025. Red Bull replaced Perez with Liam Lawson after being a one-car team. Max Verstappen took 437 of their 589 points.
Likewise, Alpine – who are valued at £1.2bn – will not want Doohan to be the Perez of 2025 as they look to improve on last year’s fifth-place finish in the F1 constructors’ championship. Alpine shot up the table after Ocon and Gasly’s double-podium in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
