Alpine Will she guarantee her trust in Jack Doohan until mid-season?

The threat has been hanging over Jack Doohan's shoulders for weeks. Barely installed in his first car en Formula 1 that speculation about his replacement at Alpine abounded in mass. After his difficult debut in the premier class of motorsport, rumors suggest that the Australian will be dismissed from the Miami Grand Prix. However, according to The Race, a reprieve would be granted to the young 22-year-old driver and his seat would be assured until the summer. Enough time for the Aussie to gain confidence and take flight... or burn his wings

Speculation began at the end of the 2024 season when Flavio Briatore, executive advisor to the French team, expressed his interest in the profile of Franco Colapinto, still affiliated with WilliamsThese rumors, initially discreet, took on another dimension with the announcement of the signing of the Argentinian as reserve driver for the team ofenstoneFrom then on, the Pilar native appeared as a direct threat to Jack Doohan, he became his sword of Damocles which, if he does not perform, falls and steals his seat.

Moreover, beyond the purely sporting aspect, the pressure is also fueled by economic arguments. Franco Colapinto brings with him many South American sponsors for Alpine, if he became an official pilot alongside Pierre Gasly, he could bring even more.

Doohan's faltering beginnings

Jack Doohan's cause was not helped by a series of on-track mishaps: retiring on the first lap in Australia after going off track in the rain, collision penalties in China, and a spectacular crash in Free Practice 2 in Japan, caused by forgetting to close the DRS before the first corner at Suzuka.

At the final round in Bahrain, the Australian struggled in the second half of his race: overtaken by numerous rivals, he received a five-second penalty for a repeated violation of track limits. While he was hoping to score his first points following his strong qualifying (11th), his errors relegated him to 14th place in the Grand Prix, another mixed performance.

With these setbacks and under pressure from Franco Colapinto, what fate awaits Jack Doohan at Alpine ? "He did a good job this weekend, stressed Oliver Oakes, team director, after the Bahrain weekend. I know his crash in Japan surprised him. However, I think this weekend in Bahrain, especially in qualifying and the first two stints, he did a great job." Always according The Race, some of the stable's executives Alpine are determined to support Jack Doohan. They are said to have been impressed by the speed the driver has shown at various times in this early season and by his positive collaboration with the engineers.

The rest of this exercise therefore promises to be decisive for the pilot. AlpineIf the information shared is correct, he will still have a few races to definitively convince the French team. The Jeddah circuit, a technical track on which error is fatal, will be a major challenge for Doohan. If he manages to deliver a solid performance, without mishaps, he will score big points for himself and strengthen his chances of securing his seat until the end of the season.

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