MIAMI, Fla. – Last summer, Alpine confirmed that Jack Doohan would be stepping into a full-time driving role when the 2025 Formula One season kicks off.
Then, things got a bit tangled when they brought in Franco Colapinto from Williams as a super sub for 2024. His presence as a backup driver seemed to fuel ongoing rumors about Alpine’s long-term stability, especially after YPF president and CEO Horacio Marin was arrested, which added more layers to the speculation swirling around the team. There was even an awkward moment on air where Colapinto’s involvement in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix car was discussed.
YPF, a major Argentine energy company, financially supports Colapinto.
Doohan brushed off the chatter during a Thursday media session at the Miami Grand Prix, stating, “The peak of this noise was back in January’s preseason, and it felt like nothing else happened after that.”
He continued, “It became quite a storyline, but I quickly realized I was focusing on irrelevant things instead of my job.”
“Honestly, despite everything, and even in tough moments, it didn’t impact me. I had a supportive team around me, which made a difference.”
During the same media day, Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer addressed the situation surrounding Doohan as well.
When asked about Doohan at a FIA press conference, Szafnauer acknowledged the ongoing “speculation” but confirmed that Doohan is indeed solidly positioned as the team’s driver alongside Pierre Gasly.
“I noticed it, just like everyone else. This sponsor from Argentina is certainly popular. I can imagine many fans back in Argentina will be excited to see him on track this Sunday,” he added.
“I think we’ve been fairly transparent as a team. It’s just background noise, and Jack needs to keep performing well.”
However, he did admit that such speculation is always around.
When pressed about whether Doohan would race at Imola, Szafnauer confirmed that, as of now, “Yes, Jack is our driver along with Pierre.”
“We’ve made that quite clear. Of course, we appreciate everyone’s interest, but this is where we stand today.”
Given Szafnauer’s expertise in driver development, it’s likely he’s advocating for a careful, measured approach with Doohan. Still, it’ll be interesting to see how long that patience holds.
