The first press conference for Alpine’s drivers was held on Tuesday at the O2 in London, as part of the F1 Live gala. It was an eventful appearance, with Jack Doohan, who made his debut in Abu Dhabi in 2024, being bombarded with questions. He will be starting alongside Pierre Gasly, and the media was eager to get his thoughts on various topics.
The Focus on Colapinto
The questioning centered around Franco Colapinto, who has been signed as a reserve pilot for the Estone squad. This move is seen as a personal bet by Flavio Briatore, and there’s speculation about whether Doohan’s position is secure. The Australian, son of the legendary Mick Doohan, has only six races signed, and there are rumors that he could be replaced by the new Argentine star if his performance isn’t up to par.
Doohan tried to address these concerns in the best way possible, but it was clear he was getting frustrated. When asked if he could be out of the car after the initial races, he simply said, “No.” He emphasized that Colapinto is a reserve pilot and that he’s aware of the pressure that comes with being a Formula 1 driver. “I know that when I was in karting, in Formula 3, Formula 2, I would have done anything to be in Formula 1 and sacrifice everything… I don’t necessarily think if it is someone inside the team, outside the team, anyone who is performing well, you will always have pressure on your shoulders because you are in such a ruthless sport, but whatever the pressure that may be, I hope to enjoy it, accept it, and simply enjoy my Formula 1 season,” he explained.
A Difficult Question
The questions didn’t get any easier for Doohan, as he was then asked if he felt threatened by having a 21-year-old reserve pilot with a long-term contract waiting for his turn. Doohan’s response was candid, “Is that a question?” He went on to say, “Last year I was also a 21-year-old reserve pilot with a long-term contract, but no, I don’t feel that way. Maybe I should, I don’t know, really I don’t understand that as a question, but yes, definitely not.”
The Alpine head of communication eventually stepped in, putting an end to the line of questioning. “I think we have already discussed Franco’s situation. Let’s move on to the following. I think we have had two, let’s move on to other issues,” he said.
Ultimately, the issue at hand isn’t with Doohan, who’s living his dream in his first season as a starter in F1, or the press, which is simply asking the obvious questions. The real question is why Alpine has signed a substitute pilot, paying good money to Williams for his rights, if they don’t plan on using him. With many sponsors behind Colapinto, it’s hard to believe that Briatore made this move without a plan in place. The debate surrounding Doohan’s position is far from over, and it’s likely to continue throughout the season.
