Former F1 driver Roberto Merhi predicts Alpine rookie Jack Doohan will be replaced within five races of the 2025 season, amid growing speculation about his future following Franco Colapinto’s appointment as reserve driver.
Alpine F1 rookie Jack Doohan faces mounting speculation about his future, with former Formula 1 driver Roberto Merhi suggesting the Australian may not retain his seat beyond the season’s fourth race. Despite being confirmed as an Alpine driver for the 2025 season, Doohan’s position has come under scrutiny following a series of events that have cast doubt over his long-term prospects with the French outfit.
Briatore’s favourite
The controversy began when Alpine executive director Flavio Briatore was photographed in discussions with Williams’ stand-in driver Franco Colapinto at the Qatar paddock. The Argentinian made a notable impression during his nine-race stint with Williams, accumulating five points before a series of incidents dimmed his promising start.
Briatore’s subsequent comments to Le Parisien did little to quell speculation. “The only thing we can be sure of is death,” he remarked. “We’ll start the year with Pierre and Jack, I can guarantee that. After that, we’ll see as the season progresses.”
The situation intensified when Alpine announced Colapinto as their official reserve driver for 2025, mere days after Briatore’s cryptic interview. However, team principal Oliver Oakes attempted to defuse tensions, criticising “keyboard warriors” whilst asserting Doohan would receive a “fair” opportunity to prove himself.
Pressure on Doohan
“It’s been a little bit harsh on Jack, some of the stuff that was written by the keyboard warriors there, and he’s getting his fair crack at it,” Oakes told the James Allen on F1 podcast. “The intention isn’t to put pressure on his shoulders. It’s genuinely to give the team options further down the line.”
Oakes emphasised the importance of performance in Formula 1, stating, “F1 is fine margins. There’s a load of people who are depending on a driver to deliver each weekend, and we need to make sure we’ve got the best drivers in the race car, not just now, but also in the future.”
However, Merhi’s recent prediction to Marca has reignited concerns. “Alpine? We’ll see if Jack Doohan starts the year, but I think he won’t be there in five races,” the former F1 driver declared. This timeline suggests Doohan has just four races—Australia, China, Japan, and Bahrain—to secure his position within the team.
For his part, Doohan remains resolute. Speaking to Sky Sports News, he expressed his determination, saying, “Yeah, I’m very motivated. I look forward, to be honest, just to getting on track and doing the work with my hands and my feet and steering that car as best as I can. I look forward to just cementing my place here for the future.”
Feature Image Credit: BWT Alpine F1 Team
