Schumacher claims that Jack Doohan « might be finished after Australia »
Newly appointed at Alpine, Jack Doohan is already on the hot seat even before his first Grand Prix. With Franco Colapinto waiting in the wings and Flavio Briatore closely watching performances, the Australian will need to shine from Melbourne to secure his future.
Jack Doohan, freshly promoted to a permanent seat at Alpine alongside Pierre Gasly, sets out on his first Formula 1 season under enormous pressure. Even before completing his first Grand Prix as an official driver, his future is already being questioned. When asked about the situation of Doohan and Colapinto on the podcast Backstage Boxengasse, Ralf Schumacher did not hesitate to drop a bombshell:
« If the boy is not performing well, he probably wasn’t very strong during the tests, but from what I’ve heard, it will pass quite quickly. Flavio knows it himself, it could be over after Australia. » In other words, Doohan would have only a few races to prove himself, and if his home Grand Prix in Australia doesn’t go well, Alpine could quickly turn to another option.
Franco Colapinto in ambush
What further fuels these speculations is the arrival of Franco Colapinto as Alpine’s reserve driver for 2025. Impressive during his nine starts with Williams in 2024, the Argentine seems to be a serious contender for a full-time seat. Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s executive advisor, does not hide the fact that Doohan’s seat is far from guaranteed: “We are here to run the best driver in the car. Jack starts the season, and we will then see how things go,” he told the media.
A clear message: if Doohan does not quickly prove he belongs, Colapinto could be called in as a backup. Facing the rumors, Jack Doohan tries to keep his cool. At the F1 season launch in London, the young Australian gave a curt response to a journalist who asked if he felt threatened by Colapinto: « Is that a question? »
A retort that made Oliver Oakes, the team director, smile, as he appreciated his driver’s quick wit while remaining cautious about his future: « I think we’ve been very honest about what we are doing. Let’s let Jack do his thing and also let the team do theirs, to be honest. » no panic for now, but no guarantees either.
Everything to prove starting in Melbourne
If Jack Doohan wants to prove he deserves his place, it starts now. His first Grand Prix as a main driver, at home in Australia, could be decisive. Ralf Schumacher is convinced of it: « He’s going to Melbourne now and he’s going to put the pedal to the metal. In the first two or three races, of course, he could become a superstar. But that’s not the case for now. »
The stakes are high: a good result could calm the rumors, while a bad weekend would add more fuel to the fire. Doohan is taking a big gamble, and all eyes will be on him at the Australian GP.
