Alpine make no guarantees that Jack Doohan will complete the 2025 season. Flavio Briatore explains that Alpine will re-evaluate Doohan’s position as the year progresses. The Enstone squad could once again generate plenty of F1 news headlines next year.
Doohan has limited margin for error
Despite a relatively strong end to the season, significant speculation has surrounded Alpine in recent months.
The French outfit chose to replace Esteban Ocon before the season finale in Abu Dhabi – with Jack Doohan taking his place.
Such an abrupt end to Ocon’s five-season career at Enstone caught most observers by surprise.
However, Alpine can be expected to exercise any measures – no matter how radical – to achieve their goals.
Ocon’s exit, much like that of Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri, is fresh evidence of the French outfit’s ruthless approach.
Even after Alpine confirmed Jack Doohan as part of their 2025 line-up, rumours circulated about his position being under threat.
These reports weren’t unfounded either, with Flavio Briatore making no secret of his talks with Franco Colapinto.
Although a Colapinto deal did not materialise, the fact negotiations even took place are a reminder of how precarious Doohan’s olace is.
Briatore: No guarantees for Doohan
Speaking in a recent interview, Briatore was candid about Alpine’s driver situation:
“The only certain thing is death,” he told Le Parisien.
“We start the year with Pierre [Gasly] and Jack [Doohan], I guarantee it. After that, we’ll see during the season.
“I have to help the team reach a situation where it can achieve results.
“The driver is the one who has to finish the work of the almost one thousand people behind him.
“Everyone works for just two people. And if there is a driver who is not making progress, who is not bringing results, he will be changed.”
All eyes on 2026
Fundamentally, next season will see relatively limited development – with teams set to focus on the 2026 regulations as early as possible.
For Alpine, who have set the ambitious goal of fighting for titles in 2027, the new regulations are the priority.
Aside from allocating resources for 2026, assembling the best driver line-up possible is also top on the agenda.
In this regard, Flavio Briatore will not hesitate to make changes if he believes a better option is available.
Jack Doohan certainly won’t be making his F1 debut in ideal circumstances. Then again, this is rarely the case for any driver.
The 21-year-old must acclimatise quickly against Pierre Gasly to cement himself at the team.
A slow start could see Alpine pulling the trigger before Doohan has the chance to progress.
Then again, the French squad’s driver decisions are not always easy to predict.
It is easy to forget that Esteban Ocon was their top performer in the first half of the year.
Bruno Famin’s role in creating the media storm after Ocon and Gasly’s Monaco incident was a complete shock.
Although Famin is no longer involved in Alpine’s F1 operations, the fact he was so instrumental in Ocon’s exit just weeks after losing his position is testament to how volatile Alpine can be.
Their volatile nature is what has given Jack Doohan a chance in F1 – but it will also complicate things when 2025 begins.
