The next few weeks could be career-defining for Jack Doohan. Whether he silences the doubters and solidifies his place at Alpine—or finds himself replaced by the fast-rising Franco Colapinto—remains to be seen.
What’s clear is that the spotlight is now firmly on Doohan, and how he performs under this pressure will determine whether he’s in the F1 paddock in 2026 or watching from the sidelines.
His talent is undeniable. His mindset, as shown in his recent comments, seems grounded. Now, it all comes down to results.
The 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was a tough pill to swallow for Jack Doohan. A poor qualifying, a strategy gamble gone wrong, and a car lacking race pace combined to create a perfect storm of underperformance.
However, every F1 driver goes through tough weekends, and how Doohan responds could define his season.
The rookie still has the potential to shine—but potential must soon turn into performance if he wants to be more than just another name on the F1 grid.
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Table of Contents
Jack Doohan’s Saudi Struggles:
A Grand Prix to Forget
The 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was a frustrating affair for Jack Doohan, as the Alpine rookie endured one of his most difficult Formula 1 weekends to date.1
Starting 17th on the grid, Doohan finished in the same position, failing to make any significant progress across the 50 laps around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
From a poor qualifying session to a bold but ultimately flawed strategy call, the weekend left Doohan soul-searching as he continues his hunt for a breakthrough in his debut F1 season.
Solid day today, we came up short in the end. We start from P11 tomorrow. Lets chase some points! 🙏🇧🇭 pic.twitter.com/ryX02rVoLy
— Jack Doohan (@jackdoohan33) April 12, 2025
A Poor Start to the Weekend: Q1 Exit
Jack Doohan’s problems began on Saturday during qualifying. Despite showing promise in practice sessions earlier in the weekend, he couldn’t deliver when it mattered.
He was knocked out in Q1 and ended up 17th on the grid, a sharp contrast to his more experienced teammate Pierre Gasly, who managed to push his Alpine into Q3 and secured a P9 starting position.
Doohan admitted post-qualifying that the team couldn’t find the sweet spot in the car’s setup, particularly struggling with traction out of the low-speed corners and top-end speed down Jeddah’s long straights.
The young Australian seemed dejected, aware of the uphill battle he would face come race day.
Opening Lap Chaos and a Strategic Gamble
The race began with instant drama. Gasly, who had qualified strongly, got tangled with Yuki Tsunoda on the very first lap, leading to a crash that ended his race prematurely.
The incident triggered an early safety car, which Alpine saw as an opportunity to roll the dice.
The team called Doohan into the pits to switch him onto the hard compound tires, hoping he could go the distance with a one-stop strategy while others would need to pit later.
At first glance, the move seemed clever—capitalizing on the reduced tire degradation under the safety car and track position gains.
Jack Doohan Questions Alpine’s Call
But as the race unfolded, it became clear that the decision was too optimistic.2
Doohan couldn’t extract the performance needed from the hard tires over the long stint.
Speaking after the race, Doohan revealed he had initial doubts about the call:
“We obviously took the gamble on that first-lap Safety Car. I questioned it initially because I was like, ‘Well, we’ve got 49 laps to go here on this hard.’”
For the first portion of the race, Doohan found himself behind Nico Hülkenberg and felt relatively comfortable. But overtaking proved impossible.
“Unfortunately, we just didn’t have enough to get past on the straights. Then I would take a lap to not be up his gearbox and let everything cool down…”
This constant balancing act of staying close enough to stay competitive, yet not too close to overheat the car, added another layer of complexity to Doohan’s already difficult race.
The Inevitable Second Stop
Despite Alpine’s hopes that the hard compound would last until the end, the tires started falling off the cliff around Lap 32.
Doohan was forced to pit for a second time, losing several positions in the process and effectively neutralizing any gains from the early strategy move.
This second stop confirmed what many observers had suspected—the strategy was a misfire. Doohan’s position after rejoining was worse than before, and with limited race pace, there was no way back into the points.
Alpine’s Pace Problem
Aside from strategy, another key issue that plagued Doohan’s race was Alpine’s lack of raw pace. Compared to other midfield runners, the A525 chassis just didn’t have enough grunt to challenge cars ahead or defend against faster ones behind.
Doohan mentioned this post-race, highlighting how he was forced to manage the engine and brake temperatures, especially when stuck in traffic:
“If I wasn’t at that 0.5-0.6s and was still in DRS, I was just a victim to the cars behind.”
Cooling laps, energy deployment limitations, and aerodynamic wake made overtaking nearly impossible. Doohan was left stuck in a defensive game with little hope of attacking, a frustrating position for any driver, let alone a rookie eager to prove his worth.
Jack Doohan: Teammate Comparison
Gasly’s Misfortune
While Gasly’s race ended early due to the crash, his superior qualifying performance underlined the difference in consistency between the two Alpine drivers.3
Though Doohan has shown flashes of potential, such as in Bahrain earlier in the season, the gap between him and Gasly remains significant.
That comparison is one Doohan cannot escape. As a rookie, he’s expected to learn and adapt, but when teammates are consistently outperforming you, pressure begins to mount—especially in a results-driven sport like Formula 1.
No Points, Mounting Pressure
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix marked yet another race weekend without points for Jack Doohan. With the season nearing its midway point, the pressure is starting to mount on the young Australian to deliver results.
Alpine has shown in the past they are not shy about making mid-season changes if performance doesn’t meet expectations.
Doohan’s position may not be under immediate threat, but Formula 1 careers can shift quickly. To solidify his place in the team beyond 2025, he’ll need to start scoring—fast.
Rookie Learning Curve or Red Flags?
It’s important to acknowledge that rookies rarely hit the ground running. The learning curve in F1 is steep, and Doohan is competing against some of the best drivers in the world.
However, consistently finishing outside the points, struggling in qualifying, and falling victim to questionable strategy calls do raise concerns.
Is Doohan a future star being let down by his team and car? Or is he simply not adjusting quickly enough to the demands of Formula 1? The answer might lie somewhere in between—but time to figure it out is limited.
Room for Growth and Positives to Take Away
- Despite the dismal result, Doohan’s maturity in the post-race interviews showed a driver who understands the bigger picture.
- He didn’t blame his team directly but questioned decisions constructively, and he openly admitted to the challenges he faced.
- Moreover, he completed the race with no incidents and provided valuable feedback to the engineers. Those qualities will serve him well as he continues to develop in the world of Formula 1.
- With the next few races approaching quickly, Jack Doohan will need to bounce back.
- A stronger qualifying performance would help alleviate the pressure early on race weekends and avoid being caught in messy midfield battles.
- Moreover, he’ll need to build trust with his strategists, making sure both sides are aligned on decisions.
- He’ll also hope Alpine can bring some performance upgrades to help both himself and Gasly fight for consistent points. Without pace, no strategy will be enough to salvage a result.
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Jack Doohan Breaks Silence on His Contract Situation with Alpine
Jack Doohan’s future in Formula 1 has been a hot topic of conversation in the paddock lately, with swirling rumors suggesting that his seat at Alpine is under threat.
The 21-year-old Australian driver, who is currently part of Alpine’s F1 setup, has been under mounting pressure to deliver strong performances amid growing interest in a potential replacement: Argentine driver Franco Colapinto.
According to recent reports, Alpine’s newly reinstated executive advisor, Flavio Briatore, is allegedly exploring the idea of dropping Doohan in favor of Colapinto if immediate improvements aren’t made.
The veteran Italian, who has a reputation for bold moves and sharp decisions, is reportedly dissatisfied with Doohan’s current trajectory and lack of headline-grabbing results.
Doohan Stays Calm Amid Mounting Speculation
While fans and insiders speculate feverishly about the future, Jack Doohan himself remains composed.
In a recent interview with Motorsportweek, Doohan addressed the rumors in a calm and focused manner, saying:
“I’ve tried not to think about it [contract]. We know internally what my contract situation is, and the rest, I always knew, was going to be fluctuating for sure. All I can focus on is what I and the team are here to do and for me to get up to speed as quickly as possible.”
Doohan’s comments suggest a driver who is blocking out the noise and concentrating on improving his form. It’s a mature approach for someone navigating such high-stakes territory in the cutthroat world of Formula 1.
Jack Doohan’s Performance
A Mixed Bag So Far
Doohan’s performances this season have been a mixed bag. While he has shown glimpses of potential and delivered a few solid qualifying sessions, consistency has eluded him.
In a sport where margins are razor-thin and patience even thinner, such inconsistency can be costly—especially when a hungry, promising driver like Colapinto is waiting in the wings.
The expectations surrounding Doohan have always been high. As the son of legendary MotoGP rider Mick Doohan, Jack entered the sport with a recognizable name and a lot to prove.
While he’s carved out his own identity, the pressure to live up to both familial and organizational expectations has only intensified.
The Business Side: Sponsorship and Media Influence
Beyond on-track performance, another critical factor in this situation is the business side of racing.
Franco Colapinto brings significant financial backing, particularly from South American sponsors eager to see their man on the global stage.
With Formula 1 expanding its reach into new markets, including South America, having a popular driver from that region could be beneficial for Alpine’s brand.
Furthermore, Colapinto’s rising social media presence and marketability play a crucial role.
Teams now consider digital engagement and global appeal when evaluating drivers, and Colapinto is rapidly becoming a fan favorite, especially among younger fans and international audiences.
Jack Doohan: Collaboration
Jack Doohan announced a special collaboration with The Oppenheim Group, they are creating a custom helmet ahead of the Miami Grand Prix on May 4th.
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What Alpine Needs Right Now
Alpine is in a state of flux. The team has undergone several internal changes, and with Flavio Briatore’s return, there’s a clear shift toward a more aggressive and results-driven culture.
In such an environment, every seat is under scrutiny, and every driver must justify their place not just with lap times, but with their overall contribution to the team’s profile and progress.
For Alpine, the ultimate goal is to close the gap to the top teams.
Whether Doohan fits into that vision long-term depends on how quickly he can adapt, improve, and prove that he belongs in Formula 1 not just as a test or reserve driver, but as a future Grand Prix contender.
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