Jack Doohan says he doesn’t really feel any further strain from the arrival of Franco Colapinto at Alpine as a result of Components 1 drivers are at all times prone to dropping their seats in “such a cutthroat sport”.
Colapinto was signed by Alpine as a reserve driver choice in the beginning of this season, with the group asserting it had reached a multi-year settlement with Williams for his providers. Williams group principal James Vowles has since revealed there might be a degree that the Argentine returns to his group, stating he was allowed to hitch Alpine because it was considered as his greatest probability of racing in 2025 and 2026, however Doohan says he has not been informed his personal place is underneath any further risk.
“No, I’ve been informed he’s reserve driver,” Doohan mentioned. “I believe regardless, you’re one in every of 20 Components 1 drivers on this planet. I do know after I was a go-karter, Components 3, Components 2, I might have achieved something to be in Components 1, and sacrifice every thing.
“I don’t assume essentially somebody contained in the group, exterior the group, anybody who’s performing nicely, you’re at all times going to have strain in your shoulders, since you’re in such a cutthroat sport. No matter strain there could also be, I look ahead to having fun with that, embracing it, and simply having fun with my Components 1 season.”
When it was instructed to Doohan that it was an uncommon state of affairs to have a younger driver who raced final yr on a multi-year reserve deal, he insists he isn’t feeling undermined by Colapinto’s presence.
“I used to be a 21-year-old reserve driver final yr, with a long-term contract. However no. I don’t [feel undermined]. Possibly I ought to, I don’t know. I don’t actually perceive that as a query. However yeah, positively not.”
Talking throughout press conferences forward of the F1 75 Reside launch occasion on the O2 in London, additional inquiries to Doohan regarding his future with Alpine and Colapinto’s place had been shut down by the group.
Shortly after Doohan was dealing with the media in London, Alpine introduced a partnership with Mercado Libre, with the Latin American e-commerce platform set to characteristic on the 2025 automobile having been on the Williams when Colapinto raced final yr.
