Oliver Oakes stands by Jack Doohan amid speculation over the driver’s F1 future

MIAMI, Florida — Last summer Alpine confirmed a long-anticipated rumor, that Jack Doohan would be driving full-time as the 2025 Formula 1 season began.

Yet, when the team signed Franco Colapinto, the 2024 supersub at Williams, as a reserve driver ahead of this season speculation about Doohan’s long-term security with Alpine has grown almost daily. That speculation only increased in recent days when Horacio Marin, president and CEO of YPF, appeared on television news channel A24 and was caught on a hot mic indicating that Colapinto would be in the car at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

YPF, an Argentinian energy company, is a financial backer of Colapinto.

Doohan brushed the rumors aside on Thursday when he spoke with the media, including SB Nation, at the Miami Grand Prix.

“The worst of it was in January pre-season when there was the most noise, nothing else going on,” said Doohan during his media session on Thursday.

“It was the talk of the town but I think there was a new narrative each weekend and, very quickly as well, I knew what was irrelevant, what wasn’t true, and just focused on my job.

“To be honest, on top of everything, and even in the difficult times, I didn’t really ever feel affected by it – I had a good group of people around me, and the team was also very supportive.”

Thursday it was Team Principal Oliver Oakes’ turn.

Asked during the FIA Press Conference about Doohan, Oakes made it clear that he understands that there will always be “speculation,” but that Doohan is the team’s driver “along with Pierre” [Gasly].

“Yeah, I mean, look, I saw it like everyone else. I think it was a sponsor from Argentina off camera giving his view on sort of Franco when he’s going to be in the car,” began Oakes. “I mean, obviously I’m sure there’s a lot of people in Argentina who’d like him in the car this Sunday.

“I think we’ve been pretty open as a team.

“That’s just noise out there and Jack needs to continue doing a good job.

But I think obviously it’s natural that there’s always that speculation there.”

Pressed on whether Doohan would be in the car in Imola, Oakes declared that as of today, that is indeed the case.

“Yeah, I mean, as it is today, Jack is our driver along with Pierre,” stated Oakes.

“I think we’ve been pretty clear on that. I mean, we always evaluate it, but yeah, today that is the case.”

With his background in driver development, it should perhaps come as no surprise that Oakes is looking to take a patient approach with Doohan. How long that patience lasts, however, remains to be seen.