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Oakes insists Doohan will get 'fair crack' for Alpine amid Colapinto signing
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Alpine boss Oliver Oakes has insisted that Jack Doohan will get a “fair crack” during his debut season for the team in 2025 amid speculation already emerging over the Australian’s future following the signing of Franco Colapinto as a reserve driver.
It was confirmed last summer that Doohan – who has long served as a reserve for the squad – would race for the Enstone-based outfit this year, replacing Esteban Ocon as team mate to Pierre Gasly.
The 22-year-old was then given an earlier-than-expected debut after the Haas-bound Ocon departed Alpine with one race to spare, allowing Doohan to step in at the 2024 season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix where he crossed the line in 15th place.
Since then Alpine have announced a new roster of drivers for their test and reserve line-up in 2025, including F2 racer Paul Aron, Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa and Colapinto, the Argentine having caught the eye during his stint on the grid with Williams in 2024.
Colapinto’s signing on a multi-year deal has led to speculation that Doohan is now under increased pressure to perform, given that the 21-year-old would be available to step in if needed. However, team boss Oakes has played down this idea while also acknowledging that Colapinto’s arrival gives the squad “options” going forward.
Colapinto will act as a test and reserve driver for Alpine in 2025
"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 next year," Oakes said during an appearance on the James Allen On F1 podcast.
"And I think the intention there isn't to put [pressure] on his shoulders. It's genuinely to give the team options further down the line. And for me 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."
READ MORE: All the 2025 reserve drivers for every F1 team
Asked if Doohan’s weekend in Abu Dhabi would benefit him in terms of his preparations for 2025, Oakes responded: “It’s always hard to calculate that but, I think if you peel it all back, the number one thing for me there was he’s done a weekend, that he knows what to expect.
“When we get to Australia it’s a big home race for him – I dare say it takes away a little bit of the rawness of the emotion he’s going to go through. And for the team it just makes that settling in process slightly easier.
“We got a bit of stick publicly for that, dropping him in and letting Esteban go early, but it was as straightforward as it just made complete sense for the team. At the end of the day we want to give Jack the best chance to perform, and he did a solid job in Abu Dhabi.
Doohan made his debut for Alpine at the final race of the 2024 season in Abu Dhabi
“He did a good job, he kept his nose clean. I think it will be a big help. At the end of the day, it will still be what it will be, because motorsport’s like that; with all the preparation in the world, they’ll be something that can still catch you out.”
Reflecting further on Alpine’s decision to recruit Colapinto, Oakes acknowledged that the Argentine had a difficult end to his nine-race stint with Williams – featuring a number of crashes and retirements – but suggested that the impression he made went beyond this.
"I think Franco made a great first impression with Williams. I think it was clear to see that he probably tried a bit too hard at the end there,” Oakes continued.
"How much of that was the situation he was in, where he didn't have a seat confirmed and was trying to over-impress, and how much of that was a compromise on parts on the car, that's hard to calculate. But I think the crux is he made a strong impression with the speed he showed.
"For us as a team it's great to have that roster of two young drivers in Paul and Franco there waiting in the wings, because it's not just about 2025; 2026, 2027 is around the corner, and it's hard in F1 to plan what's going to happen and what drivers you're going to have to go in the car.
"For us, it just keeps everyone honest in terms of how they're performing and gives us options."
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