A fierce defence of Alpine driver Jack Doohan was launched in Bahrain.
Sky Sports activities F1 commentator David Croft jumped to the defence of rookie Doohan who’s remarkably already beneath stress to maintain his seat.
Since being named as Alpine’s driver for 2025, the workforce signed the highly-rated Franco Colapinto as their reserve driver. Unconfirmed rumours counsel Colapinto and Doohan might swap roles inside a number of races.
Doohan answered the media’s questions on his race seat defensively in Bahrain.
Sky Sports activities’ Craig Slater mentioned: “There are six rookies however are any beneath extra stress than him? He needed to cope with questions on Franco Colapinto becoming a member of the workforce.
“I’ve been talking to a few individuals who reckon he loved that, he loved getting punchy with the media.
“Possibly that lit his fireplace forward of the season.”
Jack Doohan ‘poor drive’ rejected
Doohan drove for Alpine within the 2024 F1 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
He completed fifteenth and didn’t significantly catch the attention.
However Crofty insisted: “I’m going to face up for Doohan.
“I assumed he was unfortunate in Abu Dhabi. Within the first runs in qualifying he was a tenth off Pierre Gasly, and there’s no shame in that.
“He then acquired despatched out into site visitors, his tyres cooled, misplaced grip. He began decrease than he was going to.
“The instruction was to convey the automobile residence and preserve it secure.
“What appeared like a poor drive was simply doing because the workforce requested.
“Flavio Briatore or Ollie Oakes want to return out and say ‘Doohan is our man for the 12 months’.
“In the event that they try this, the hypothesis stops.”
Crew principal Oakes admitted the scrutiny on Doohan was “not truthful”.
However, Colapinto stays within the background as an choice for Alpine to swap into their workforce.
The season begins on the Australian Grand Prix – Doohan’s residence race – on March 16.
