Jack Doohan

F1 News: Alpine applies pressure on Jack Doohan to perform (Update)

(GMM) The pressure is mounting on Jack Doohan as Alpine snaps up rising Argentine talent Franco Colapinto.

The team’s powerful and famous executive advisor, Flavio Briatore, reached a deal with Williams boss James Vowles to secure Colapinto on a multi-year contract.

In 2025, at least at first, he will be a reserve driver. But rumours of more are already in full swing.

“We believe this agreement with Alpine represents Franco’s best chance of securing a race seat in 2025 or 2026,” Vowles said in a statement.

The German news agency DPA believes that Australian rookie Doohan’s race seat this year is only guaranteed for the initial six grands prix of 2025.

“We will start the year with Pierre (Gasly) and Jack, I can guarantee you that,” Briatore told Le Parisien newspaper. “Then, we will see during the season.”

When asked if he is certain Doohan will still be in the car at the end of the season, the 74-year-old Italian admitted: “The only thing that is certain is death.

“I have to put the team in a position to achieve results,” Briatore added. “The drivers are responsible for finishing the work of around 1000 people behind them. They all work for just two people.

“If a driver doesn’t deliver results, doesn’t progress, he will be replaced. You can’t be emotional in Formula 1.”


January 12, 2025 

This week’s announcements that Franco Colapinto and Ryo Hirakawa have joined Alpine’s growing pool of test and reserve drivers on a “multi-year” deal can only be bad news for Australian Jack Doohan.

Doohan, the son of five-time MotoGP champion Mick Doohan, made his F1 debut at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he stood in for Esteban Ocon following the Frenchman’s premature exit from the team.

Doohan qualified last and finished 15th in his first grand prix. He was half a second slower than teammate Pierre Gasly, who scored points in seventh as Alpine looked to provide Doohan with a head start for his F1 preparations.

Briatore has insisted that Doohan will race for Alpine in 2025, at least at the start of the season, which begins with the Australian Grand Prix on 16 March.

Speaking prior to Doohan’s switch was confirmed, Briatore was quoted as telling Le Parisien: “The only thing we can be sure of is death! We’ll start the year with Pierre and Jack, I can guarantee that.”

Briatore went on to indicate that Doohan’s length of stay at Alpine will be dictated by his results.

“After that, we’ll see as the season progresses,” he continued. “I have to get the team in the right condition to get results and the driver is the one who has to conclude the work of nearly 1,000 people behind him. Everyone works for just two people.

“If there’s a driver who isn’t making progress, who isn’t bringing me results, I change him. You can’t be emotional in F1.”

Colapinto’s hire, more so than Hirakawa’s hire, gives Alpine insurance with a known back-up option should Doohan fail to meet expectations.

Colapinto made a spectacular start to life in F1, reaching Q3 and scoring points at just the second attempt in Azerbaijan. He would go on to score five points in the nine grands prix he entered, far better than the driver he replaced – American Logan Sargeant.