Jack Doohan is set to lose his Formula 1 seat just seven races into his career. It will be one of the most ruthless decisions in the sport’s recent history.
F1 Oversteer revealed on Monday that Alpine have discussed dropping Doohan and signing Franco Colapinto for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. It seems as if the Australian will be relegated back to a reserve role.
Indeed, Alpine are planning to keep Doohan around, just not in a race driver capacity. His prospects of racing for the team again appear extremely slim based on precedent.
Thus, he may be wise to consider moving on. He only needs to look across to the other side of the garage for inspiration.
Red Bull demoted Pierre Gasly back to their sister team, then known as Toro Rosso, in 2019. After rebuilding his reputation at Faenza, he’s now the lead driver for a manufacturer team with big ambitions.
Cadillac should make a move for Jack Doohan as Alpine axe looms
According to FOX Sports Australia, new F1 entrants Cadillac could offer Doohan ‘refuge’. The American brand will join the grid in 2026.
They’ve yet to confirm either of their drivers for their debut season, though they are apparently ‘deep in talks’ with Sergio Perez. Team boss Graeme Lowdon values experience, but he should pounce on the opportunity to sign Doohan.
The 22-year-old hasn’t scored a point in F1 and has admittedly been involved in multiple incidents. But one can understand why desperation has crept into his driving.
Alpine arguably put him in an unfair position by giving him so few races to save his seat. Even in that context, he’s shown his raw speed by outqualifying race-winner Gasly on two occasions.
Doohan also notched six race wins, five poles and 11 podiums in Formula 2, finishing third in the championship in his final year. He may not be in the absolute top tier of talents, but he’s more than worthy of another shot.
Cadillac official’s intriguing response when asked about Sergio Perez
As the table below shows, Doohan has a superior record to Colapinto in Formula 2. The latter made an impressive start at Williams last year but rather unravelled with a series of heavy crashes.
Ultimately, the main difference between the two may be commercial. Colapinto can offer £25m in sponsorship and significantly strengthen their influence in the Latin American market.
| CATEGORY | COL | DOO |
| Total races | 22 | 53 |
| Win % | 4.5% | 11.3% |
| Pole % | 0% | 9.4% |
| Podium % | 13.6% | 20.8% |
| Points per race | 4.4 | 5.6 |
Fortunately for Doohan, Cadillac say no driver can buy one of their seats. They’re in talks with the heavily backed Perez, but that’s a reflection of his pedigree.
Team executive Pat Symonds smiled when asked about Perez in the Miami GP paddock. A youth/experience combination could be the most balanced approach.
