Last summer, Jack Doohan realized a dream.
The young Australian driver had secured a full-time spot on the Formula 1 grid, earning a promotion at Alpine to drive alongside Pierre Gasly during the 2025 season. Later in the year Doohan realized another dream, as he made his F1 debut at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in place of Esteban Ocon.
However, speculation about job security follows many F1 drivers, and those questions soon began circling around Doohan’s spot at Alpine. Not only has the team continued to add young drivers to their stable of reserves — including F2 driver Kush Maini earlier this week — but one of those drivers was also fighting for a spot on the grid for 2025: Williams super-sub Franco Colapinto.
Colapinto earned a mid-season promotion at Williams last year, replacing Logan Sargeant. All the young driver did during his stint on the grid was score points in two races, including in just his second race, and make his own case for a spot on the grid.
While Colapinto ultimately missed out on a full-time seat for 2025, his move to Alpine as a reserve immediately led many to wonder if Doohan’s time in F1 would be short-lived.
Speaking Thursday ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix — his home race — Doohan dismissed “rumors” and outlined where his focus is heading into the season.
“I haven’t been thinking about any of that because as you all know, there’s no point thinking about rumors] or commenting on them. But you know, I have a contract for at least this year, if not more. So, I look forward to many home Grands Prix,” began Doohan.
Doohan then outlined that Colapinto is not the only driver aiming for a spot on the grid, whether the one the Australian driver currently occupies or someone else’s.
After all, that is part of life in F1.
“And the uncertainties? You don’t bother worrying about them. I think I have to perform each and every time I’m in the car. I have one guy chasing my seat, but we actually have four now, if you didn’t realize, we have four reserves, you have all four of them, not just Franco, probably wants my seat and if not, Pierre’s as well,” explained Doohan. “And I wanted their seats while I was reserve driver the last two years. So you know I’m going to enjoy, to be honest, every race as if it’s my last, because I want to enjoy each and every moment I’m in the car. But. Yeah, to be honest, not much more to add on that.”
That enjoyment is where Doohan’s focus will be this season.
“To enjoy,” said Doohan when asked what his goal is for his rookie campaign. “Enjoy each time I’m on track, because number one, that’s why I’m here, because I enjoy what I do. And to work hard with the team, ensure that we extracted everything we could from Bahrain pre-season testing and put that into play for this weekend and then deliver on track, whatever the car’s potential.”
The potential at Alpine this season is one of the fascinating F1 storylines, given how the team rebounded from a difficult start in 2024 to rise up the standings, ultimately finishing sixth. Could Alpine have the surprise package in 2025?
We’ll know more this weekend.
