Jack Doohan will race alongside Pierre Gasly at Alpine in 2025. However, that line-up may not last long.
Despite having only made one appearance in F1 so far (the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi), Doohan is already at risk of losing his seat.
The Aussie confirmed his move to Alpine midway through 2024 as Esteban Ocon’s replacement. But it has been reported that Doohan has only signed a six-race contract, giving him, in theory, until the Miami Grand Prix to keep his seat.
The Enstone-based outfit have been highly active in the driver market in 2025 already. Paul Aron, Ryo Hirakawa and Franco Colapinto have all signed as reserve drivers – with the last of those names being tipped for the future.
The Argentine scored five points in nine races with Williams in 2024 as Logan Sargeant’s replacement. Flavio Briatore was impressed by Colapinto amid interest from rival teams and snapped up his signature on a long-term contract.
Since his arrival to Alpine, Colapinto has been heavily linked with replacing Doohan. With the latter’s alleged short-term deal, the switch could happen before the summer break.
Pierre Gasly says Jack Doohan has given ‘good technical feedback’ in simulator tests
Alpine’s attitude towards the Colapinto-Doohan situation has been very telling. Briatore posted about Colapinto’s first test for Alpine in Barcelona but did not share anything about Doohan’s run, despite him being their 2025 driver.
But while there has been little attention on the Aussie, it has not stopped him from putting in the work at Enstone. Alpine were impressed by Doohan’s work behind the scenes in testing.
Doohan outpaced George Russell in a 2026 Pirelli tyre test in Barcelona. While that is not much to go off for 2025, it will be a confidence boost for the 22-year-old.
The Aussie will have gained extensive knowledge as Alpine’s reserve driver in 2024, and teammate Gasly has noticed the work he is putting in. Speaking with the French edition of Motorsport.com, the 29-year-old highlighted the ‘good technical feedback’ Doohan has been giving.
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Gasly also thinks some pressure can be eased off his teammate with there being ‘no correlation’ between the 2025 and 2026 car.
“The advantage is that as we are coming to the end of the regulations, this year our technical feedback will not impact next year’s car. It will be mainly about optimization this year, it will be very important to optimize the package,” he said.
“For next year it will be such a different car that there will be no correlation between 2025 and 2026. In that respect, I think it takes a little bit of pressure off Jack, because I think it will be especially important for him to focus on driving, to try to do the best he can.
“Technically, he is good. From what I have seen in the last two years, every time he gives good technical feedback on his simulator tests.”
The ‘criterion’ Franco Colapinto needs to meet to take Jack Doohan’s seat
Alpine have repeatedly reaffirmed their commitment to their new recruit ahead of 2025. Doohan snapped at questions about Colapinto at the F175 launch event, with the team eventually blocking any further questions on the matter.
But given Colapinto is contracted until 2029, it is very clear what Alpine’s intentions are. The Argentine will certainly be in a full-time race seat at some point – when that will be is anyone’s guess.
Juan Pablo Montoya thinks F1 are pushing Alpine to sack Doohan and replace him with the 21-year-old. His commercial value in South America is critical for the sport.
Colapinto feels he ‘left a mark’ on F1 by bringing Argentines back to the sport after not having a driver to support since 2001. He will be gunning to get back onto the grid sooner rather than later.
Renault CEO Luca de Meo says Colapinto must prove he is ‘fast’ at Alpine. Having already displayed that at Williams, the Argentine is in a good position to land a race seat with the team.
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