F1 News: Alpine applies pressure on Jack Doohan to perform

This week’s announcements that Franco Colapinto and Ryo Hirakawa have joined Alpine’s growing pool of test and reserve drivers on a “multi-year” deal can only be bad news for Australian Jack Doohan.

Doohan, the son of five-time MotoGP champion Mick Doohan, made his F1 debut at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he stood in for Esteban Ocon following the Frenchman’s premature exit from the team.

Doohan qualified last and finished 15th in his first grand prix. He was half a second slower than teammate Pierre Gasly, who scored points in seventh as Alpine looked to provide Doohan with a head start for his F1 preparations.

Briatore has insisted that Doohan will race for Alpine in 2025, at least at the start of the season, which begins with the Australian Grand Prix on 16 March.

Speaking prior to Doohan’s switch was confirmed, Briatore was quoted as telling Le Parisien: “The only thing we can be sure of is death! We’ll start the year with Pierre and Jack, I can guarantee that.”

Briatore went on to indicate that Doohan’s length of stay at Alpine will be dictated by his results.

“After that, we’ll see as the season progresses,” he continued. “I have to get the team in the right condition to get results and the driver is the one who has to conclude the work of nearly 1,000 people behind him. Everyone works for just two people.

“If there’s a driver who isn’t making progress, who isn’t bringing me results, I change him. You can’t be emotional in F1.”

Colapinto’s hire, more so than Hirakawa’s hire, gives Alpine insurance with a known back-up option should Doohan fail to meet expectations.

Colapinto made a spectacular start to life in F1, reaching Q3 and scoring points at just the second attempt in Azerbaijan. He would go on to score five points in the nine grands prix he entered, far better than the driver he replaced – American Logan Sargeant.