Key Highlights
- Jack Doohan’s hopes of a comeback with Alpine for the final three races in 2025 were thwarted.
- Doohan was dropped after just six races and replaced by Franco Colapinto, who struggled to perform well.
- Briatore initially left the door open for Doohan’s return but later decided against a driver change.
- Doohan is now focused on his full-time F1 options despite potential opportunities with other teams.
The Return of Jack Doohan: A Missed Opportunity?
In October 2025, Formula 1 fans faced a significant disappointment when Alpine F1 team owner Flavio Briatore decided not to give Jack Doohan another chance at the race seat. After being dropped after just six races in 2025 and replaced by Franco Colapinto, Doohan’s hopes of returning for the final three races were ultimately thwarted.
Alpine’s Decision
The decision to replace Doohan was made with high expectations for Franco Colapinto. Briatore initially framed it as an “evaluation” that left the door open for Doohan’s return, but his sentiments changed over time. Despite Colapinto struggling during several races, Alpine opted not to make a further driver change. This move came despite suggestions from Briatore earlier in the season that mistakes had been made with driver choices.
Doohan’s Struggles and Hopes
Jack Doohan, who only debuted late in the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi, showed signs of strong underlying pace during his six weekends as an Alpine driver. However, he faced intense scrutiny from the start due to Colapinto being signed on a multi-year test and reserve deal last December. Doohan’s position was further undermined when conversations suggested he had chances to regain his seat before the end of the season.
Doohan managed to secure financial backing for the seat but ultimately did not get the opportunity to race again this year. His involvement has been limited, with only track running in junior formula cars at his own expense and minimal simulator support work at Alpine.
FUTURE OUTLOOK
The future of Jack Doohan remains uncertain as he considers his longer-term options beyond 2025. Conversations have taken place with Cadillac, Williams, Haas, and Sauber to explore potential positions in the coming season. However, Doohan’s preferred option for next year is still an Alpine race seat.
Despite these developments, it appears that Briatore has little interest in putting Doohan back in a race seat for 2026.
Colapinto, with his strong backing from Latin America, is seen as the incumbent driver and a stronger contender to claim the seat long-term. His performance over the past few races has shown improvement, although challenges remain.
As Formula 1 continues to evolve, the situation for Jack Doohan highlights the pressures and uncertainties facing young drivers in this high-stakes sport. The coming months will likely bring further developments as Briatore makes decisions on Alpine’s driver lineup for next year.
