Doohan brushes aside Colapinto pressure in 'such a cutthroat sport'

Jack Doohan says he doesn’t feel any additional pressure from the arrival of Franco Colapinto at Alpine because Formula 1 drivers are always at risk of losing their seats in “such a cutthroat sport”.

Colapinto was signed by Alpine as a reserve driver option at the start of this season, with the team announcing it had reached a multi-year agreement with Williams for his services. Williams team principal James Vowles has since revealed there will be a point that the Argentine returns to his team, stating he was allowed to join Alpine as it was viewed as his best chance of racing in 2025 and 2026, but Doohan says he has not been told his own position is under any extra threat.

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“No, I’ve been told he’s reserve driver,” Doohan said. “I think regardless, you’re one of 20 Formula 1 drivers in the world. I know when I was a go-karter, Formula 3, Formula 2, I would have done anything to be in Formula 1, and sacrifice everything.

“I don’t think necessarily someone inside the team, outside the team, anyone who is performing well, you’re always going to have pressure on your shoulders, because you’re in such a cutthroat sport. Whatever pressure there may be, I look forward to enjoying that, embracing it, and just enjoying my Formula 1 season.”

When it was suggested to Doohan that it was an unusual situation to have a young driver who raced last year on a multi-year reserve deal, he insists he is not feeling undermined by Colapinto’s presence.

“I was a 21-year-old reserve driver last year, with a long-term contract. But no. I don’t [feel undermined]. Maybe I should, I don’t know. I don’t really understand that as a question. But yeah, definitely not.”

Speaking during press conferences ahead of the F1 75 Live launch event at the O2 in London, further questions to Doohan relating to his future with Alpine and Colapinto’s position were shut down by the team.

Shortly after Doohan was facing the media in London, Alpine announced a partnership with Mercado Libre, with the Latin American e-commerce platform set to feature on the 2025 car having been on the Williams when Colapinto raced last year.