Ralf Schumacher says £800k-a-year F1 driver has been even worse than Jack Doohan in 2025 after his Alpine exit

Jack Doohan has become the first driver to drop off the Formula 1 grid after losing his seat at Alpine after the Miami Grand Prix.

Alpine gave Jack Doohan just seven race weekends to prove he had what it takes to be a Formula 1 driver.

That included a one-off drive at the end of the 2024 season against a field of drivers who had spent all year getting to grips with their cars, while Doohan was parachuted into Esteban Ocon’s seat following his swift release from the team to join Haas.

It’s been suggested that new team principal Flavio Briatore wanted to highlight Doohan’s weaknesses to Alpine during that race as his power within the team grew.

Four reserve drivers were then hired over the winter break, including Franco Colapinto on loan from Williams.

Doohan undoubtedly has made some high-profile mistakes including big crashes in Australia and Japan.

However, Ralf Schumacher believes that another driver on the grid who is still in a race seat has performed even more poorly than the 22-year-old Australian.

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

Ralf Schumacher says Liam Lawson has performed worse than Jack Doohan this season

Schumacher, speaking just before Doohan’s exit was confirmed, said on the Backstage Boxengasse Podcast, “If you look at the faces and hear what’s going on behind the scenes, it seems to have been decided.

“We’re keeping our fingers crossed for him, because it will be hard for the boy if that happens.

“But, of course, as they often say, Formula 1 is not a bed of roses.

“I saw that his performances weren’t bad, but it wasn’t good enough either. In terms of the rookies, the others are doing better, except for Lawson, it must be said.

“Accordingly, that’s how it will be, it’s too bad, I was happy for him. I know him and his father too, a very likeable guy and a great family in general, but it’s of no use on the track.”

Liam Lawson lost his original race seat at Red Bull just two rounds into the 2025 campaign after struggling in the garage opposite Max Verstappen.

However, the £800,000-a-year driver is still pointless at Racing Bulls four race weekends into his return and has been outperformed by rookie Isack Hadjar during the majority of those sessions.

READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls F1 driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know

How Jack Doohan and Liam Lawson’s 2025 Formula 1 seasons compare

At the beginning of the season, Doohan and Lawson were set similar tasks in completely different environments.

Both youngsters had to get as close to their respective teammates as possible, and in that sense, Doohan outperformed Lawson.

He outqualified Pierre Gasly for the Miami Grand Prix, while Lawson never got close to Verstappen and has only outperformed Hadjar once over one lap.

Verstappen previously suggested Lawson would be better off at Racing Bulls, however, this is mainly due to how difficult the RB21 is to drive.

Alpine’s car is far from perfect, but the one race that was an opportunity to score points was in Bahrain, where Gasly spent the race battling with Verstappen.

Unfortunately for Doohan, he slowly drifted away from the top 10, while Lawson was even further off the pace.

Lawson is set to be under pressure if things don’t improve soon with Arvid Lindblad hoping to prove himself in Formula 2 this year.

However, he’ll be glad he at least is still on the grid going into the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix as Doohan will be back watching the action from the Alpine garage.