Jack Doohan believes that the pressure of ex-Williams driver Franco Colapinto joining the ranks at Alpine will not negatively impact his first full season in Formula 1, despite speculation about the security of his seat.
The Australian has replaced Esteban Ocon at the Enstone-based outfit for 2025, lining up alongside Pierre Gasly as they hope to continue the momentum from their hard-fought P6 finish in last season’s Constructors’ Standings.
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With Doohan evacuating the reserve driver role he held at Alpine since 2023, the team were quick to sign Colapinto from Williams, where he had turned heads as a super-sub in the latter stage of the season, despite some major crashes overshadowing his stronger drives.
Doohan is set to make his full-time debut when the F1 paddock lands in Australia next month, but the presence of a similarly young driver who has already secured nine races’ worth of experience has raised questions about the expectations around his performance.
Doohan and Gasly appeared together in front of the media at the F1 75 Live launch event
Speaking to the media ahead of F1 75 Live, the 22-year-old commented on perceptions of the pressure on him, explaining that he has only been informed that Colapinto will join their reserve roster alongside Ryo Hirakawa and Paul Aron.
“I think regardless, you’re one of 20 Formula 1 drivers in the world,” he said. “I know when I was in a go-kart, Formula 3, Formula 2… I would do anything to be in Formula 1 and sacrifice everything.
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“Anyone that’s performing well is always going to have pressure on their shoulders because you’re in such a cutthroat sport. Whatever pressure there may be, I look forward to enjoying that, embracing that.”
Doohan received an unexpected opportunity to compete for the team in last season’s finale in Abu Dhabi, stepping in for Ocon earlier than planned – he crossed the line in 15th, eight positions behind Gasly who capitalised on Alpine’s late performance surge.
Doohan got further experience with Alpine in the 2024 post-season test
As one of six drivers embarking on their first full season on the grid, the Aussie will face multiple comparisons to his fellow young racers as well as his team mate, but he insisted that he does not feel undermined by Colapinto’s appointment.
The Argentine is now in the same position as Doohan was previously – “a 21-year-old reserve driver with a long-term contract” – and Team Principal Oliver Oakes has touched on how he is partly there to “give the team options further down the line”.
Focusing on the beginning of the season, Doohan added: “We’ll find out very quickly where the car is in Bahrain, and from there it will be maximising every inch of our car – the aero, the power unit, ensure that I’m getting everything out of the car to [reach] those high points positions.
“I just want to be maximising that and ensuring our car for 2026 and this new generation is in a good window to ensure that this goal we all have in mind – Oli [Oakes], Flavio [Briatore], the whole team – of getting back to the front is there.”
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