Doohan insulted, Colapinto manager raises his voice

Jack Doohan will be on the grid for his home Grand Prix on March 16 in Melbourne, but how many more starts will he make this season? The question has been asked relentlessly since the announcement of the promotion of Mick Doohan's son from reserve driver to full-time driver, in place ofEsteban Ocon. Despite his tenure, the Australian has found himself on an ejection seat in recent months, since the recruitment of Franco Colapinto from Williams. The Argentine was the revelation of the second half of last season and his absence from the grid seems to be entirely temporary. Colapinto's choice to join Alpine during the winter could be a way to prepare to replace Jack Doohan, who Flavio Briatore does not seem to consider a reliable option in the long term.

Rumours about the length of the contract signed by Jack Doohan are also rife: some are talking about a possible lease of just five races, which would therefore end at the next Bahrain Grand Prix, making it Alpine a possible change as early as the following Grand Prix, in Saudi Arabia (April 18-20). The decision could then seem premature, even unfair, especially since the French team maintains that Jack Doohan will have his chance and that there is currently no question of replacing him. But the many fans of Franco Colapinto, the first Argentinian to ride in Formula 1 since Gaston Mazzacane (2000 – 2001) do not share this opinion.

ALSO READ > F1 2025 Guide – Alpine, the calm after the storm?

Pressure mounts for Doohan

Alpine had to delete some posts on his social networks because of a wave of Argentinian fans who came to insult Jack Doohan. The Argentinian driver's manager tried to appease Franco Colapinto's fans by publishing an appeal for calm on his X account.

"The haters who think they are helping Franco. You are doing him more harm than good by insulting the team, Jack and sometimes other fans ofAlpine. Franco and all of us who support him are fans of the whole team, and of Pierre and Jack. Conduct yourselves with passion but not with insults and arrogance. Franco's time will come but not like this, you will get the complete opposite," posted Jamie Campbell-Walter on his X account in an attempt to bring a slightly healthier climate aroundAlpine.

The fact remains that despite all the efforts of Flavio Briatore and Oliver Oakes to ensure that Jack Doohan would have his chance, the statements of the leaders of the A fléché always seem to lack a little conviction, which does not help to give Jack Doohan confidence. The Australian will have to be particularly good to at least finish the season, but he seems convinced that he is capable of it. Only the track will tell.

Well said! The haters who think they help Franco. You are doing him more harm than good. Insults to the team, to Jack and sometimes to other supporters of Alpine. Franco and all of us who support him are fans of the whole team, Pierre and Jack. Conduct yourselves with passion but… https://t.co/CLAO738Ep6

— Jamie Campbell-Walter (@jcampbellwalter) February 28, 2025