Doohan under increasing pressure at Alpine as rumours of possible mid-season exit swirl – The 2025 Formula One season has only just begun, but already one of the most talked about stories in the paddock revolves around Jack Doohan and his increasingly uncertain future at Alpine. The Australian rookie, who was promoted to a full-time race seat this year, has found himself in the spotlight amid a series of underwhelming performances, high-profile mistakes and growing speculation that his F1 stint could be cut short before the summer break.

While Alpine officially started the season with Doohan alongside Pierre Gasly, persistent rumours suggest that the team is already considering alternatives. Reserve driver Franco Colapinto, who joined the team this year on a multi-year contract, is seen by many as the most likely candidate to step in should Alpine decide to make a change. For now, Doohan remains in the car – but how long that will last is becoming one of the hottest questions in the sport.

 

Rough start for Doohan raises red flags

Expectations were high for Doohan when Alpine confirmed his promotion from development and reserve driver in recent years. Backed by years of preparation within the team’s academy structure and a solid Formula 2 resume, Doohan was seen as the next in line to lead Alpine’s future.

Instead, the early rounds of the season have painted a much bleaker picture. Doohan remains out of contention after several races and has struggled to keep the car out of trouble. From crashes in practice to poor race execution and disappointing qualifying laps, the rookie has yet to put in the kind of performances that would cement his place within the team.

More than just the lack of results, it’s the toll that Doohan’s mistakes have taken on Alpine’s already stretched resources that is becoming a serious concern. The A525, an ambitious but temperamental machine, doesn’t offer much forgiveness – and when combined with driver error, the financial and competitive cost has been significant.

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Kravitz claims a deadline was set for Miami

In the build-up to the Bahrain Grand Prix, Sky Sports F1 reporter Ted Kravitz dropped a bombshell in the paddock by suggesting that Doohan had been given an internal deadline: the Miami Grand Prix. According to Kravitz, Alpine’s top brass were prepared to assess Doohan’s performance over the first five races, with a decision expected shortly after the Florida race.

Such a deadline would put Doohan’s F1 future on a very short leash. If true, it would mean that the rookie’s first half-dozen race weekends could effectively determine whether he remains with the team for the rest of the calendar – or whether Alpine turns the page on the Australian experiment and brings in a replacement.

However, Kravitz’s comments, while headline-grabbing, may not reflect the full story unfolding inside the Alpine garage.

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Conflicting reports from within the team

A more nuanced version of events has been offered by The Race, a specialist publication known for its in-depth analysis and close links to the team. In a recent report, the publication suggests that while Doohan’s position is under scrutiny, there is no hard deadline tied specifically to Miami. Instead, the team is described as internally divided, with competing views on whether the rookie deserves more time or if it’s time to take decisive action.

At the centre of the push for change is Flavio Briatore, who returned to the Alpine management group in a supervisory role earlier this year. According to The Race, Briatore has been vocal in his support for the promotion of Franco Colapinto. The Argentinean driver, who has made waves in Formula 2 and is now in a reserve role at Alpine, is reportedly seen by Briatore as ready to step in.

But others in the organisation are said to take a different view. Several leading figures within the team are said to continue to support Doohan, arguing that the car’s weaknesses – particularly its inconsistent balance and race pace – have contributed significantly to the results. These individuals are not ready to give up on the Australian just yet, pointing to his strong simulator work and occasional flashes of raw speed during Friday practice sessions as evidence of potential.

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No Imola shake-up, but summer still in play

Despite Briatore’s call for immediate action, The Race understands that a decision on Doohan’s future is unlikely to be made before the start of the European round at Imola. Instead, the most realistic timeframe for a potential change would be during the summer months, when teams often reassess their line-ups for the final stages of the season.

No specific date has been set and the team are said to be closely monitoring Doohan’s progress race by race. If he can demonstrate a noticeable upturn in performance – avoiding incidents, delivering stronger qualifying results and perhaps sneaking into the points – Alpine may decide to stay the course. But if the current trend continues, the team could use the mid-season break as a natural time to make a change.

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What must Doohan do to survive?

The way forward for Doohan is simple in theory, but complex in execution. That means clean weekends, qualifying within Gasly’s range and showing composure in race situations. More importantly, he needs to minimise the damage and avoid the kind of mistakes that have characterised his early outings in 2025.

There’s also a psychological aspect at play. Doohan needs to prove not only to Alpine’s management, but also to himself, that he is up to the demands of F1. Confidence has always played a crucial role in a rookie’s development, and at the moment it’s unclear where Doohan stands. If he can produce a strong performance under pressure, he could turn things around – but the window for such a turnaround is closing.

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A make-or-break stage ahead

Jack Doohan’s rookie campaign is unfolding under immense pressure, with rumours of an early exit gaining traction and the team’s reserve driver waiting in the wings. While reports differ on the urgency of any decision, the consensus is clear: unless Doohan improves soon, Alpine may have no choice but to consider alternative options – and Franco Colapinto, with the backing of the team and growing support from the fans, is the logical next step.

Whether the end comes after Miami, sometime in the summer, or not at all depends entirely on how Doohan responds in the coming races. For now, he remains in the Alpine cockpit – but as Formula One has shown time and again, nothing is guaranteed for long.

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