As the Formula 1 racing season kicks off, newcomer Jack Doohan finds himself in the hot seat, grappling with the pressures of making his full-time debut while fending off whispers of a potential replacement by Alpine reserve driver Franco Colapinto. F1 commentator, Martin Brundle, offers exclusive insight into the tempest brewing within the Alpine team, courtesy of a conversation with Doohan’s father, the legendary motorcyclist Mick Doohan.
The Australian rookie, who will be partnering with Pierre Gasly for his inaugural campaign, is reportedly under rigorous assessment. Despite officially joining the Alpine team, the looming presence of Colapinto, who signed a long-term deal as a reserve driver over the winter, has sparked speculation about Doohan’s tenure. Allegedly, Flavio Briatore, the former Renault F1 team boss, is keen on promoting Colapinto to the main driver line-up.
Neither Briatore nor Alpine’s team boss, Oli Oakes, have done anything to quell these rumours. However, it seems that Doohan will be given a fair chance to prove his mettle during his initial races, following his debut as a replacement for Esteban Ocon in Abu Dhabi last season.
Alongside Colapinto, Alpine has also enlisted Paul Aron, Ryo Hirakawa, and Kush Maini as reserve and test drivers for the F1 2025 season. This undoubtedly ratchets up the pressure on Doohan to perform, a sentiment echoed by Brundle during his appearance on The F1 Show with Naomi Schiff and Simon Lazenby.
Brundle, sharing the contents of his chat with Mick Doohan, revealed that Jack is feeling the strain, especially with his home race in Australia on the horizon. He stated, “I saw a picture with four drivers: Pierre Gasly, him, Franco Colapinto, and Paul Aron. If I were Jack, I’d think, ‘This should be a two-driver shoot, not a four-driver shoot.’”
Brundle further explained the psychological toll this situation can take on a driver, saying, “But you don’t want that on your mind; driving every weekend while thinking about your future isn’t ideal. I’ve been there before, and it’s tough. You’re constantly thinking about your career because it might end at any moment. Then the car starts sliding, and you get nervous because you don’t want to crash. It just adds pressure.”
Oakes, on the other hand, commended Doohan’s resilience amidst the media frenzy. He urged that Doohan be given some space to focus on his performance during the initial races. However, he didn’t deny the inherent pressures of the sport, stating, “No matter what driver you are, in any category there’s pressure. It doesn’t matter whether that’s in F1 or even in the junior categories.”
Despite the swirling rumours, Oakes remained non-committal about Doohan’s future with the team, emphasizing that the ultimate decision will be based on performance. He said, “We’re here to go racing the best driver in the car, the best engine in the car. And from my side, I was pretty open that Jack, as Flavio said it, we’re starting the season with Jack and Pierre, and then let’s see how it all goes.”
As the F1 season gains momentum, Jack Doohan, under the watchful eyes of the racing world, is gearing up to prove his worth. Will he rise to the occasion or will the pressures of the sport take its toll? Only time will tell.
