Jack Doohan‘s long-anticipated debut in Formula 1 in 2025 has lived up to the hype as a high-pressure affair, particularly in the first five races. As Alpine weighs their options, deciding to retain the 22-year-old until the summer break, the stakes are undeniably high. Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes has publicly shown his support for the Australian rookie during his challenging first season.
Although the decision grants Doohan a reprieve until August, it underscores the possibility of replacement. This scrutiny isn’t new for the young Australian, especially after Flavio Briatore publicly expressed his reluctance to guarantee Doohan a full-season drive. The addition of promising young driver Franco Colapinto, who inked a multi-year deal with Alpine, only added to the pressure Doohan faces.
Oliver Oakes, Alpine’s team boss, has been a vocal advocate for Doohan, opposing the criticism surrounding him. On the James Allen on F1 podcast, Oakes addressed the negativity faced by the rookie, offering crucial support from the team’s leadership.
The early races have been challenging, as Doohan’s results reveal. His season began with a DNF in Australia, followed by finishes at P13, P15, P14, and P17. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was particularly concerning, with a P17 finish, a lap down, after struggling to make an alternate strategy work post an early Safety Car pit. Despite finding momentary form on hard tires, Doohan’s failure to recover highlighted a struggle between driver skill and mechanical limitations.
The difficulties extend to qualifying, where Doohan hasn’t advanced beyond Q1 in three events, complicating his race days. While rookie adaptation periods are anticipated, the presence of another talented young driver in Alpine’s stable has intensified competition within the Enstone-based team.
Following a vexing performance in Jeddah, Doohan provided a thoughtful post-race evaluation. Speaking to Formula1, he explained Alpine’s bold one-stop strategy’s outcome, mentioning the car felt ‘comfortable in the corners.’ However, he acknowledged lacking the pace and straight-line speed for effective overtakes. As others took additional pit stops, he rapidly lost ground, necessitating a second stop to complete the race.
Furthermore, Doohan expressed that learning from these early setbacks is imperative. Collaborating with team engineers to unearth more potential from the Alpine F1 A525 Renault is now a paramount focus as he strives for improvement.
For Jack Doohan, the coming races are crucial. With every performance scrutinized, his trajectory in Formula 1 could significantly shift, highlighting the intense pressure that accompanies his Alpine F1 2025 debut.
