Jack Doohan’s future in Formula 1 is on thin ice after a rocky Japanese Grand Prix, and with Franco Colapinto waiting in the wings, could Japan have been Doohan’s final race in Formula 1?
Doohan had a weekend to forget at Suzuka after crashing on Friday’s Free Practice 2 session, leaving him out of the rest of the session.
Doohan then struggled for pace throughout the rest of the weekend, qualifying 19th and finishing Sunday’s race in 15th place.
The added pressure on Doohan looms large as Colapinto, Alpine’s reserve driver, waits on the sidelines to replace Doohan if his poor form continues.
So the big question is being asked: was this Jack Doohan’s final race in Formula 1, and if so, what were his reactions to his possible final race as a Formula 1 driver?
Doohan “content’ with final race result.
“We have to be content with that. Gaining four places at the end of the day, very few people move forward. That was quite impressive.”
Doohan also said he did not think the strategy was optimal for race time.
“I think the strategy was aggressive. It gave us the best opportunity to move forward. However, I don’t think it was the best strategy for overall race time, let’s say. We were able to execute the undercut, which was great. However, with 25 laps to go, we certainly were in a bit of a tricky situation when it came to tyre life.”
“We were able to move forward in a race like today. We’re just going to keep our heads high, keep pushing, and try to bounce back and get some points in Bahrain.”
“I think it’s all just a good experience for me as well, good learning,” said Doohan. “I wasn’t able to keep Carlos behind on the new soft tyre, which was a bit of a bummer. All in all, to keep Hulk, Lawson, and Ocon, I think those are the three cars that I undercut.”
“Who knows? We’re just going to keep our heads high, keep motivated, keep pushing. I look forward to bouncing back from this weekend.“
What is the possibility this is Doohan’s final race in F1?
Colapinto was heavily impressive in the final 9 races of the 2024 season, scoring 5 points for Williams.
After Colapinto was signed as Alpine’s reserve driver for the 2025 season, rumours began on whether Doohan’s F1 career was over before it had even begun.
Colapinto also notably spent last Sunday testing Alpine’s 2023 car at Monza. However, this was not a reaction to Doohan’s crash and was planned as a test day for the Argentine.
Even more speculation grew after Flavio Briatore was quick to comment on Doohan’s poor weekend in Suzuka.
Briatore stated, “I try to make sure the team has the best possible drivers. If it’s Colapinto, Jack, Paul [Aron], I don’t care.”
“I’m not a killer, I just want to have the best drivers possible.
Three races into the 2025 season, Alpine still remains the only team to not score a World Championship Point following the Japanese GP.
With Doohan heavily underperforming in his first 3 races as an F1 driver, questions are certainly being asked of when Colapinto will replace Doohan, and after a horrific Japanese GP for the young Australian, the time may already have arrived.
