Jack Doohan is keeping his calm and not getting swayed by Franco Colapinto’s situation amid certain rumours about the Argentine potentially replacing him.
Already there were rumours about Colapinto joining Alpine in 2025 but it wasn’t clear in what capacity. It didn’t happen in 2024 but at the onset of 2025, the F1 team eventually confirmed the signing of the Argentine in reserve role for the current season in an unusual move.
He could have stayed as reserve at Williams too, but took the Alpine option where there is a chance of a race seat in 2025 itself as hinted by James Vowles. This puts direct pressure on Doohan, who is at the big risk of being replaced mid-way in the season in his first full year in F1.
But Doohan isn’t getting swayed by the situation. He is keeping his calm and soaking the pressure while gearing up for the 2025 season. He isn’t too bothered with the age factor of Colapinto either being a reserve. At the same time, the Argentine has brought support and sponsors already.
“No, I’ve been told he’s a reserve driver,” said Doohan, when speaking to media at the F1 75 event. “I think regardless, you’re one of 20 Formula One drivers in the world — I know when I was a go-karter, in Formula 3, Formula 2, I would do anything to be in Formula 1 and sacrifice everything.
“I don’t think necessarily someone inside the team, outside the team, anyone that’s performing well, you’re always going to have pressure on your shoulders because you’re in such a cutthroat sport. But whatever pressure there may be, I’m looking forward to enjoying that. You know, embracing it.
“And yeah, just enjoying my Formula 1 season. I was a 21-year-old reserve driver last year on a long-term contract. But, no, I don’t. Maybe I should, I don’t know. I don’t really understand that as a question. Definitely not,” summed up Doohan, who is looking to work well with Pierre Gasly in his first full F1 season.
“Yeah, for me it would be a successful rookie season, we’ll find out very quickly where the car is obviously next week in Bahrain,” he said. “And from there, it will be maximising every inch of that car, aero, power unit, mechanically, to ensure that I’m getting everything out of the car. If the car is able to be in good points, in the high points positions, then [it’s key] I’m there.
“Whatever that target, the result of the car can achieve, I just want to be maximising that. And ensuring myself and Pierre are working together correctly to get the car as far up the grid as possible while also having an eye on ’26, ensuring that our car for this new generation, where there’s a lot of opportunity, is in a good window to ensure that this goal that we all have in mind.”
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