Alpine announce update on Doohan F1 future

Jack Doohan's seat at Alpine is already at risk in 2025

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Saturday 25 January 2025 17:58 Updated: 18:10

Alpine have announced an update over Jack Doohan’s future, following speculation that he could be replaced midway through the 2025 Formula 1 season.

The Enstone-based outfit's driver lineup consists of Doohan and Pierre Gasly in 2025, with former Williams star Franco Colapinto acting as reserve driver.

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However, Colapinto’s new role at Alpine has accelerated rumours that Doohan could be replaced mid-season if the Australian driver fails to perform.

Doohan has reportedly been given as little as six races to prove himself at Alpine, after which the team have the option to bring Colapinto in alongside Gasly.

Franco Colapinto will act as Alpine reserve driver

Will Alpine replace Doohan with Colapinto?

Colapinto impressed on his F1 debut with Williams, after he replaced struggling American driver, Logan Sargeant, from the Italian Grand Prix onwards.

The Argentine driver secured a solid P8 finish in his second race at the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and added to his points scoring tally again in Austin.

However, the end of Colapinto’s 2024 season was plagued with mistakes where he crashed out on multiple occasions, and thus failed to earn a spot on the grid for 2025.

Following the reports that Colapinto could replace Doohan, Alpine team principal, Oliver Oakes, has provided an update over the Aussie’s future and confirmed it is not their intention to put pressure on the young driver.

Oliver Oakes stepped up as Alpine team principal in 2024

"It's been a little bit harsh on Jack, some of the stuff that was written by the keyboard warriors there, and he's getting his fair crack at it next year," Oakes said on the James Allen on F1 podcast.

"And I think the intention there isn't to put [pressure] on his shoulders.

“It's genuinely to give the team options further down the line. And for me F1 is fine margins.

“There's a load of people who are depending on a driver to deliver each weekend, and we need to make sure we've got the best drivers in the race car, not just now, but also in the future."

McLaren Daniel Ricciardo Toto Wolff Williams Alpine Italian Grand Prix