Jack Doohan has been one of the major talking points over the winter break. The Aussie is already at risk of losing his F1 seat.
The 22-year-old was confirmed as Esteban Ocon’s replacement at Alpine midway through 2024. Doohan had been serving as the team’s reserve driver – he is the first driver to graduate from their academy to a race seat.
The Aussie was handed his debut early at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after Ocon was released from his contract. Despite qualifying last and finishing P15, it was a good outing to prepare him for the 2025 season.
But speculation has been rife about Doohan already being at risk of dropping off the grid. Alpine have signed Franco Colapinto from Williams as their reserve driver on a long-term contract.
The Argentine’s deal, price tag and commercial value have led people to believe that Colapinto will replace the Aussie, Doohan’s contract is reportedly only for six races, suggesting the switch could happen before the summer break.
Doohan snapped at questions about Colapinto at the press conference at F1 75. Alpine blocked further questions as they seem to have shown commitment to the Aussie, for now at least.
Ted Kravitz insinuates the media is not to blame for the pressure on Jack Doohan
Alpine boss Oliver Oakes spoke in Bahrain on day one of pre-season testing about the situation, aiming criticism at the media for what is being said about Doohan’s future.
But the noise from Alpine over the winter has been telling. Flavio Briatore posted footage of Colapinto’s TPC test in Barcelona and a selfie together on social media but has not posted anything about or with Doohan.
Ted Kravitz pointed this out on Sky Sports during the afternoon session in Bahrain. He says the media should not be blamed for reporting on what is ‘coming out of Alpine.’
“It was interesting what Ollie Oakes was saying to Lawrence [Barretto] there earlier,” he said.
READ MORE: Who is Alpine F1 driver Jack Doohan? All to know from his girlfriend to dad
“To my ears, was he kind of blaming the media for not having enough to write about? In order to write all the stuff about Franco Colapinto and his fight against Jack Doohan for that seat.
“The only thing I’d say in response to that was that it wasn’t the media who signed Franco Colapinto on a three-year testing role. Which is interesting if you’re going to be three years a test driver, so you would imagine that would turn into a race driver at some point.
“It wasn’t the media who signed Mercado Libre, one of the biggest Colapinto sponsors to the Alpine team and it wasn’t the media who goes around taking selfies with Franco Colapinto and Flavio Briatore all the time.
“So, people might be a little bit forgiven I would say if I wasn’t interpreting that answer incorrectly for linking Franco Colapinto with Jack Doohan’s seat, where there’s so much of it coming out from the Alpine team themselves rather than people just making up stories.”
Guenther Steiner’s now-deleted social media post hints at when Franco Colapinto will replace Jack Doohan
While Alpine will defend Doohan and support him while in the car, it does seem the Aussie’s days are already numbered.
Journalist Nate Saunders has a ‘hunch’ Colapinto will replace Doohan before Miami. Given the latter’s alleged contract length, this would not be surprising.
Guenther Steiner hinted Doohan could be out by Miami in a now-deleted post on social media. The former Haas boss, who is an ambassador for the Miami Grand Prix, wished the Aussie and Colapinto good luck for the season, as well as the other three rookies (Bortoleto, Antonelli, Hadjar).
If Doohan is given the boot, his replacement will come under pressure as well. Juan Pablo Montoya says there is no guarantee Colapinto survives at Alpine – he will have to prove his worth if he is afforded the chance.
Leave feedback about this