Jack Doohan Shrugs Off Speculation Surrounding His Alpine Seat
Australian Formula 1 driver Jack Doohan has dismissed speculation surrounding his seat at Alpine, saying he feels "immune to it". The 21-year-old rookie has been under constant scrutiny, with rumours suggesting he could lose his seat to Franco Colapinto at any moment.
According to sources, Doohan has been subjected to relentless speculation, primarily from Argentinean media outlets, regarding his potential replacement by Colapinto. This speculation was sparked after Colapinto impressed while replacing Logan Sargeant at Williams last season. As reported by PlanetF1.com, Doohan has had to cope with the pressure of potentially losing his seat.
In an interview with PlanetF1.com, Doohan revealed that he grew immune to the rumours before the season started, allowing him to focus on his performance. "The worst of it was in January pre-season when there was the most noise, nothing else going on," he said. "It was the talk of the town but I think there was a new narrative each weekend and, very quickly as well, I knew what was irrelevant, what wasn’t true, and just focused on my job." As PlanetF1.com previously reported, Doohan’s management team has been working closely with Alpine to address the speculation.
The speculation surrounding Doohan’s seat has intensified, with the CEO of a prominent sponsor of Colapinto suggesting that the Argentine driver will return to Formula 1 at Imola, the next race of the season. However, Doohan remains unfazed, saying that he is focused on doing his job and not letting external noise affect him. "Things are always out there for a reason. Nothing gets out by mistake, so I think I was just keeping my head down and doing my job and knowing what’s real and what’s not," he told PlanetF1.com.
Doohan also spoke about his conversations with Flavio Briatore, Renault’s executive advisor, who joined Alpine in late 2024. According to PlanetF1.com, Doohan said that Briatore has been supportive, encouraging him to focus on his performance and ignore the speculation. "He’s just trying to give us a car that we can perform in, and trying to do everything in his power to make sure that we can get Alpine back to the front and make us as competitive as possible," Doohan said. As reported by PlanetF1.com, Doohan has been impressed by Briatore’s "no BS" approach.
The speculation surrounding Doohan’s seat is expected to continue, but the Australian driver remains focused on his performance. As PlanetF1.com previously reported, Doohan’s determination to prove himself has been evident throughout the season. With the support of his team and management, Doohan is confident that he can overcome the challenges and establish himself as a top driver in the Formula 1 paddock.
