Jack Doohan’s stint with Alpine takes a dramatic turn as whispers of a short-lived tenure ignite in the paddock. Despite being critiqued for two major crashes in merely three weekends, Doohan’s performance at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix might offer him some respite.
Doohan, who recently joined the F1 2025 grid, is not a stranger to scrutiny. The young driver faced significant pressure with rumors suggesting his days at Alpine were limited. The Australian driver didn’t help his case with two substantial crashes early in the season. However, at the recent Japanese Grand Prix, he made an impressive recovery, advancing more positions than any other racer during the event, although he ultimately did not score any points for the team.
Alpine’s fortunes began to shift in Bahrain, thanks to Pierre Gasly’s efforts, while Doohan marked his best qualifying stint of the season with a P11. Unfortunately, his success was marred by a series of setbacks: a Safety Car incident and a penalty for track limit violations thwarted his bid for points. Reflecting on the race, Doohan commented, ‘It was looking quite good on the soft and the medium… and a bit of bad luck on the Safety Car.’ He explained that despite a promising start, unfortunate circumstances led to a downfall in his performance during the latter half of the race.
The positive aspect of Doohan’s recent performance has not gone unnoticed. Alpine acknowledges this progress, with one of the team’s engineers revealing that Doohan is ‘nearly there.’ This assessment gives Doohan until later in the season to prove himself worthy of his seat, countering earlier speculation that suggested his tenure would be short-lived. Oliver Oakes, team principal, expressed contentment with Doohan’s advancement, noting his commendable effort across qualifying and the race itself, despite difficulties presented by the Safety Car.
Despite the looming deadline for solidifying his position at Alpine, competition from reserve drivers Franco Colapinto and Paul Aron adds an intriguing dimension. Both drivers have recently showcased their talents during TPC sessions at Monza. Aron’s performance, notably impressive given his limited experience in F1, has caught Alpine’s attention, and he is set for FP1 appearances this year. The threat of these emerging rivals keeps the pressure high on Doohan as he strives to secure his future in the intense world of Formula 1.
While Jack Doohan’s journey with Alpine is fraught with challenges, the young driver demonstrates resilience and a potential for growth. As new contenders like Colapinto and Aron challenge for the Alpine seat, Doohan’s performance in the upcoming races will be crucial in deciding his fate. His focus remains on proving his capability to remain in this high-stakes race environment.
