It's a strange situation that Jack Doohan finds himself in, even before the start of the 2025 campaign. Formula 1. The Australian, who started with Alpine to replace Esteban Ocon, will experience his first full season in the premier class, with a first stop on home soil on March 16, for the Australian Grand Prix. However, the Formula 1 community is already very perplexed about his short-term future within the discipline.
The recruitment of three reserve pilots – Paul Aron, Ryo Hirakawa and, above all, Franco Colapinto – at Alpine questions and suggests that in the event of repeated poor performances, the young Aussie will be immediately replaced. Rumors fueled by the ever-crisp statements of Flavio Briatore who assured, last December, that he would not hesitate to change one of his drivers during the 2025 season if it is not performing well enough. Some even mention a contract spread over the first five Grands Prix only for Jack Doohan, although this information is not confirmed by the driver or the team.
Doohan "very motivated" in the face of ambient pessimism
However, despite the sporting and media pressure surrounding him, the 23-year-old driver is trying to move on and enjoy his first moments as a Formula 1 driver. "It's a very special moment for me, I'm proud to be part of it. I've been with the team all week and it's been an exciting time before the season starts, said Jack Doohan from Sky Sports F1 at the Autosport Awards. I'm very motivated. I can't wait to get on track and do my job, with my hands, with my feet, and drive this car as best I can. (…) It's very special [to be alongside the stars of F1]. I've been watching them since I was a little kid, especially Lewis [Hamilton]. To be one of the 20 drivers on the grid is very special and I look forward to cementing my place [in F1] in the future."
Recently, several experts have expressed their pessimism regarding Jack Doohan's future at Alpine, due to the sometimes brutal management of Flavio Briatore, but also due to the arrival of Franco Colapinto and his sponsors in the French clan. At the end of January, Johnny Herbert even estimated that the Australian was already in the hot seat. "I think Jack Doohan will think he's already on borrowed time, when I talk to people they think exactly the same thing, a said the now ex-F1 commissioner. Doohan must be up to the task, and if he is not against Pierre Gasly, I know Flavio Briatore very well, Doohan will be out. He will be out as quickly as he blinks. So the pressure is on him now to perform." Jack Doohan will have to respond quickly if he wants to maintain any chance of keeping his seat... or at least, to grant himself an additional reprieve.
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Yves-Henri RANDIER
07/02/2025 at 09:14 a.m.
As a wise manager, "Brille A Tort" has already planned the next move!