Jack Doohan's future

[MonteCristo]

There's talks of a rolling, five, or six race contract for young Jack Doohan. We're now five races in.

After another utterly underwhelming race, what's Doohan's future?

Sadly, I didn't think he'd be much up to it before the season started. And so far, he's been bang on average at best.

He's shown 'pace' maybe twice (?) in practice (if that counts for anything), and one qualifying segment. Not entirely dominated by Gasly, but Gasly certainly has his measure.

Hard to judge racecraft when he's not shown much on TV. Not sure how he's on tyre management, etc.

Sadly, team decisions like Briatore being critical of him in the media don't help. Neither did the poor decision to sit him out of FP1 in Japan.

In my mind, it's a question if when, not if, he will be replaced. Lawson got the boot after two races - F1 can be ruthless. Colapinto is waiting in the wings, so they have a replacement.

Will he make it to Miami? Will Miami be his last race? Will he race further?

What do you think?

For me, I think he'll be gone after Miami. It'll be a little bit cruel, but unless he can pull off a miracle, he had a small chance and didn't do much with it.

[PTRACER]

The real question is who would be in line to replace him. If there's no one suitable then IMO he will stay a bit longer.

[MonteCristo]

The real question is who would be in line to replace him. If there's no one suitable then IMO he will stay a bit longer.

Colapinto Colapinto Colapinto Colapinto Colapinto Colapinto Colapinto Colapinto Colapinto Colapinto Colapinto Colapinto Colapinto.

[Everso Biggyballies]

The real question is who would be in line to replace him. If there's no one suitable then IMO he will stay a bit longer.

Paul, I m not sure if you are aware / in the loop of the background and the way things progressed soon after Jacks confirmation of the drive

Flavio signed Colapinto as a reserve driver when he becamer available. It was very soon after Jack had been confirmed for this year in a race seat.

Flavio was very open and said that there is no room for emotion in F1. He (Flavio) has to provide the best results to the team and shareholdfers and whatever it takes will happen. A sort of get the points and results and all is good, fail and I wont think twice about firing you.

There was a suggestion doing the traps that Jacks contract was only for 6 races guaranteed. Flav's words at the start of the season when asked why Colapinto had been signed and would he replace Jack simply said "Jack will start the season", that is all I will confirm

That is the background we are dealing with, and I suspect why Monty has posted the question.... it is getting near the end of the rumoured probationary period.

Oh and with Colapinto he comes with about $25 million in Argentinian backers, who will dig deep if Colapinto gets a race seat gig. That is effectively why Colapinto got the drive at Williams to replace Sargeant mid last season . His few races netted Williams several mill. Of course the downside is that although very quick and scored points in the Williams, he probably cost every sent he brought to the team in crash repairs.... If you remember one race the car was totally wrecked in qualy (Brazil?) and couldnt be repaired for the race. He proved a very expensive 'asset'.

Especially as after his initial race points and speed, he seemed to lose a lot of his early speed.

There was also a lot of hype over his services and his name was connected to many teams.... one being Red Bull proior to Lawson being confirmed as Sergios replacement. Cola also has a very active management company lkeen to get him in a race car. They have been known to anonymously leak egaggerated 'info' to the press about how many teams are about to confirm jhim. I believe the news he was imminrently going to be signed at Red Bull having spent a weekend in the Red Bull Hospitality is actually what influenced Flav to0 sign hiim as a reserve (They already had two official 2025 reserve drivers and now have three). Flav was influenced to act with haste to sign Cola as a reserve simply because fear of losing him due to the hype and the rumour of other inteerest.

So in brief, there are suggestions Jack is on a short string contract, Colapinto with megabucks but risk has been given promises unknown by Flavio to secure him as a reserve (He wanted a race seat from the go but Jack had already been given.
Some of the rumoured deadlines and conditions bandied around by veroious sources are at the point of originall guesstimate timings.

That should bring you up to date on the whole very Flav scenhario

[P. Cornelius Scipio]

hopefully Doohan has earned some extra time (I think that on occasion he has coped reasonably well, considering that he's a rookie and the pressure that he's under)

https://www.grandprix.com/news/rumours- ... yment.html

[Ruslan]

Yea, it takes several races to adjust to F1 or even a team change in F1. Sainz was consistently out-performed by Albon for the first three races this season, before he started getting it right. Hamilton is five races into the season and still hasn't adjusted to the new car. Needless to say, someone coming into F1 for the first time has a much steeper hill to climb. Some immediately take to it (Hadjar comes to mind), some take longer. Piastri was pretty much outperformed for most of last season by Norris.

Now, I am a fan of Colapinto and know nothing about Jack Doohan. But you kind of need to give these drivers time, especially as there is no testing.

Last year's F2 championship was won by Bortoleto (won 2 races), who has not been impressive at all this year in F1. Second place was by Hadjar (won 4 races), who has been the most impressive rookie so far this season. Antonelli was 6th in the standings (2 wins), Colapinto was 9th in the standings (1 win), and Bearman was 12th (2 wins). There were 11 other winning drivers in F2 last year who have not yet made it into F1. Jack Doohan's day was in 2023, where he finished third in the standings in F2 (3 wins). The two drivers ahead him and the two drivers below him in the standings have yet to make it into F1. He was ahead of Bearman, Hadjar and Colapinto in 2023. Unlike most people in F1, Doohan has never won a championship (placed 2nd and 3rd four times). Colapinto last championship win was Spanish F4. Doohan is 22, Colapinto is 21.

All these guys have a resume. Kind of need to let them run for a half-season or more.

[XcraigX]

I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.

[Everso Biggyballies]

I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.

Houston we have a problem....

[Star]

Let's face it, Doohan has already had more races than Lawson got in the Red Bull. It is unfair to put so much pressure on a rookie driver, but that is the way of F1.

Would Colapinto do a better job? Maybe, he did crash quite a few times last year as I recall. What if they dumped Doohan and Colapinto was worse? Would they offer Doohan the seat back? Unlikely I'm sure, but you never know with F1 do you?

[MonteCristo]

Money talks, and apparently Doohan brings some money with him, to the tune of €10 million.

What's the sponsor?

Ex-F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has revealed that Jack Doohan’s future at Alpine looks secure due to a €10 million sponsor he brings to the team.

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1068395/1 ... ure-alpine

[Everso Biggyballies]

Money talks, and apparently Doohan brings some money with him, to the tune of €10 million.

What's the sponsor?

Ex-F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has revealed that Jack Doohan’s future at Alpine looks secure due to a €10 million sponsor he brings to the team.

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1068395/1 ... ure-alpine

When the Colapinto push and the knowledge of his substantial (said to be $25 million) Argentinian backing word was that Doohan brought no sponsorship thus weakening his position.
The strange part is now that he suddenly has indeed secured backing there is a mystery as to who this backer is. Strange that it has never been mentioned.

However I just read of it being suggested as money from businesses owned by father Mick Doohan. Of course that is rumour but I do know Mick has been very successful in the private aviation sector, indeed classified as a 'global force in VIP aviation'.... Aside from aviation interests he has also recently been announced as a broker for Asia Pacific for Camper & Nicholson, a luxury boat charter and sales operation (Mick is himself an avid boating enthusiast and owner) He walks the walk, talks the talk in luxury boat terms

Camper & Nicholsons is proud to announce the appointment of Mick Doohan as our representative in the Australia Pacific region. We welcome him aboard in a broker capacity.Mick is a well-respected figure in the business and private aviation worlds through The Doohan Group, a diversified investment vehicle that includes Jetcraft, a corporate aircraft trading company; Global Jet International, providing specialist private jet and aircraft services; and Platinum Business Aviation Centre, a well-respected FBO concierge service for aircraft and their owners.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for Camper & Nicholsons to grow in the Australia Pacific region," says Paolo Casani, CEO. "Mick is a trusted, well-respected name in the region. And as interest in yachting in Australia has never been higher, the timing is perfect."
Mick will open a local C&N office at Gold Coast Airport. As the only private aviation terminal in Australia's hugely popular Gold Coast region, just south of Brisbane, this will bring great visibility to C&N in the country.

So it will be interesting to see if C&N or any of Mick's other businesses stickers suddenly appear on the Alpine. ..

This article details the post racing business success of Mick Racing Towards Success: Mick Doohan’s Thriving Business Empire. It would seem he is not short of a quid, so maybe the family connection rumour is on the money.

Its no secret that money talks in F1. And Flavio is never happier than when large amounds head his way either personally or into his commercial interests. He has always been a fan of the bulging brown paper bag scenario.

[Star]

I never even thought about Jack being related to Mick Doohan I probably should have done though.

Yes, money talks and if Jack now comes with sponsorship, I guess that does make him more secure. It's wrong that he'd have to do that though isn't it? I guess his father will do all he can for him, most fathers would if they have the means, well, that is if it's from him of course.

[Everso Biggyballies]

I never even thought about Jack being related to Mick Doohan I probably should have done though.

I believe Jack's Godfather might be Michael Schumacher. Actually maybe its Mick Doohan is Mick Schumacher's Godfather. .
What I do know for sure is that back in the day the Michael Shumacher and Doohan families had luxury pads in Monaco next door to each other, and were great and very close friends. I also can say that Mick is called Mick not because of his Father being Michael, but was named in tribute to Mick Doohan.. Also that Michael S bought / gave Jack a racing go-kart for his 5th Birthday present... possibly to get him keen on 4 wheel racing other than 2.
Michael used to stay with Doohan ahead of the Aus GP to acclimatise to the timezone before heading off to Melbourne for the race weekend.



Mick and Jack have been best friends for many many years.







Just a though that came to me.... the Doohan / Schumacher closeness may be the source of Ralf Schumacher's info disclosure that Jack had been saved by a recent 10 million euro sponsor. (The source of that info was Ralf in a recent podcast)

[Michael Ferner]

I never even thought about Jack being related to Mick Doohan I probably should have done though.

Me neither. Does that make a difference? Not for me - I was a big fan of his father, but like with McLaren, I dont give a damn about the 2025 version.

[Ruslan]

So Briatore shook down the Doohans for $10 million.

Anyone surprised?