Jack Doohan eager to ‘cement’ F1 future at Alpine despite Franco Colapinto arrival

The Australian rookie will partner Pierre Gasly this season and will make his full-time debut at his home race

Jack Doohan insists he is eager to “cement” his place on the F1 grid as he prepares for his full-time Alpine debut next month.

The Australian rookie, 22, will partner Pierre Gasly this season and will make his full-time debut at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on 16 March. Doohan did make his F1 race debut in the final grand prix of last season in Abu Dhabi, filling in for Haas-bound Esteban Ocon.

Yet the arrival of Franco Colapinto from Williams – with the Argentine joining as a test and reserve driver – has immediately put Doohan under the spotlight ahead of his F1 bow.

However, Doohan is undaunted by the challenge and says he is “super excited” to be one of the lucky 20 drivers on the grid.

“It’s a super special time for me, I’m stoked to be part of it,” Doohan told Sky Sports News.

“I’ve been with the team all last week and the start of this week to spend a great day capturing our moments ahead of the year.

“I’m very motivated. I look forward to just getting on track and doing the work with my hands and my feet and steering that car as best as I can.

“To be coming in, to be one of the 20 drivers on the grid, it’s super special and I look forward to cementing my place here for the future.”

Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes has insisted that Doohan, son of five-time motorcycle world champion Mick Doohan, will get a “fair crack” in the cockpit this year despite Colapinto’s arrival.

"It's been a little bit harsh on Jack, some of the stuff that was written by the keyboard warriors there, and he's getting his fair crack at it next year," Oakes told the James Allen On F1 podcast.

"And I think the intention there isn't to put [pressure] on his shoulders. It's genuinely to give the team options further down the line. And for me, F1 is fine margins.

“There's a load of people who are depending on a driver to deliver each weekend, and we need to make sure we've got the best drivers in the race car, not just now, but also in the future.”

The 2025 F1 season starts on 16 March in Australia, with a 10-team season launch event taking place at The O2 Arena in London on Tuesday 18 February.