Jack Doohan has revealed that he was unable to fully enjoy his opportunity as a Formula 1 driver with Alpine during the 2025 season. Speaking ahead of the release of the latest season of Drive to Survive, Doohan shared the difficulties he faced while chasing his long-held dream at Alpine, a team that promoted him from reserve to a full-time race seat in August 2024 after Esteban Ocon departed for Haas.
Despite Doohan’s promotion, internal doubts emerged soon after Flavio Briatore took charge of Alpine. Briatore showed hesitancy regarding Doohan’s readiness, which contributed to an unstable environment for the young Australian driver.
Team Dynamics and Early Replacement at Alpine
Shortly before the 2025 season, Briatore signed Franco Colapinto as a reserve driver, fueling speculation that Colapinto might quickly replace Doohan. This indeed occurred before the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in May, with Colapinto stepping into the race seat almost mid-season, a decision that surprised many within the Formula 1 community.
Many observers, including analyst Martin Brundle, criticized Alpine’s handling of Doohan, suggesting he deserved a longer run at least until the summer break. Despite six race starts without points and several crashes, Doohan’s performance was largely comparable to Colapinto’s results.
Doohan recounted his experience, saying,
“I wasn’t able to enjoy being a Formula 1 driver, something I dreamt of for so long. So yeah, it’s pretty s—.”
—Jack Doohan, F1 Driver
Flavio Briatore’s Controversial Approach to Team Management
Flavio Briatore’s role at Alpine has been marked by his tough approach to management. The team principal openly admitted a certain harsh satisfaction when dismissing staff who underperform. His blunt statements on season eight of Drive to Survive portrayed him as a demanding leader who ensures compliance with his directives.
Briatore said,
“I still enjoy it, if the people are not doing their job,”
followed by,
“Sometimes you want the stick and to beat everyone on the head. I’m not a dictator – but you do whatever I tell you to do.”
—Flavio Briatore, Alpine Team Principal
During Doohan’s time at Alpine, the relationship between driver and team deteriorated further, with the Australian even covering his own expenses for junior formula tests. This breach of typical team support underscored the growing disconnect.
Future Prospects for Doohan After Alpine Departure
Following his departure from Alpine, Doohan sought a move to Super Formula for the 2026 season; however, negotiations fell through. He will continue to stay involved within Formula 1 as Haas’s reserve driver, hoping to leverage this position into a full-time race seat in the future.
With Oliver Bearman heavily linked to Ferrari for 2027, Doohan could emerge as a candidate for the Haas race team if he performs well in his reserve role. His ongoing presence in the F1 paddock keeps him in contention despite the setbacks at Alpine.
Alpine, now equipped with a Mercedes engine, aim to overcome their recent performance droughts in the sport, but whether that will translate into sustained success remains to be seen.
