F1 news: Is Jack Doohan’s F1 career over before it even starts?
Jack Doohan has secured a full-time seat with Alpine for the 2025 Formula 1 season. However, his time in the sport might be cut short before it even begins.
The young Australian made an unexpected debut at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, stepping in for Alpine after the team cut ties with Esteban Ocon early.
With a confirmed seat for 2025, Doohan's future seemed set - until another rising star entered the scene.
Franco Colapinto’s meteoric rise
When Franco Colapinto replaced Logan Sargeant mid-season at Williams in 2024, he took F1 by storm. His debut was impressive, and he continued to deliver strong performances throughout the season.
However, prior to his debut, Williams had already opted for Carlos Sainz to partner Alexander Albon in 2025, leaving Colapinto without a race seat.
However, his talent did not go unnoticed, and Alpine snapped him up as their reserve driver for 2025.
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A short-lived opportunity for Doohan?
While this is great news for Colapinto, it puts immense pressure on Doohan. Reports suggest that the Australian has only five races to prove himself at Alpine.
If he fails to impress, Colapinto could take his seat alongside Pierre Gasly, as both Colapinto and Doohan will be under the watchful eyes of racing executive Flavio Briatore.
Speaking to CasinoApps, F1 legend Juan Pablo Montoya voiced his concerns about the situation:
“I feel sorry for Jack Doohan. Imagine giving someone the opportunity to race in F1 but only giving them five races to perform, or they're out. I hope Alpine can give Doohan more time than we expect he'll have.”
A troubling pattern at Alpine?
Alpine’s decision to drop Ocon early raised eyebrows - denying him even the chance to properly say goodbye to the team.
It's worth remembering that Ocon delivered Alpine’s biggest moment in recent history when he won the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix - the team’s first victory since Renault rebranded as Alpine.
That win was also Renault’s first as a works team since Fernando Alonso’s triumph at the 2008 Japanese Grand Prix.
More significantly, Ocon became the first French driver to win in a French car with a French engine since Alain Prost at the 1983 Austrian Grand Prix - a historic moment for both the team and French motorsport.
If reports about Doohan’s limited time at Alpine turn out to be true, it would further highlight a concerning trend at the team.
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