Alpine F1 on crisis brink before Miami Grand Prix as Jack Doohan's seat is under threat

As the 2025 Formula 1 season edges closer to the Miami Grand Prix, the spotlight has moved away from the track and onto the paddock controversy at Alpine F1 Team. As tensions build inside the Enstone-based team, Jack Doohan's seat in the team seems more and more precarious, with rumours of a driver swap in the offing.

Jack Doohan, promoted to a full-time Alpine seat towards the end of 2024, is yet to score a point for the year. A string of disappointing performances from his side—with a P17 in Jeddah and two costly crashes in Australia and Japan—have raised questions over how long he will stay, especially as Franco Colapinto waits in the wings.
The Franco Colapinto buzz only got louder after Alpine consultant Flavio Briatore inked the 21-year-old Belgian-based Argentine as a reserve driver. Without Colapinto in attendance, speculation remains that Alpine can clear him in Miami for Doohan's spot as soon as Round 6.
There is increasing irritation behind the scenes. Indications at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix were that there were "long faces" behind Alpine's hospitality suite, a sign of the team's discontent.
But insiders indicate that there is some internal backing for Jack Doohan. Most at Alpine feel the Australian is not far behind Gasly's level and would come into his own with more experience. The choice may now be as much about finance as pace, as Jack Doohan's recent crashes have taken the team's cap to the edge.
Alpine's management seems to be split. While Briatore may be adamant on a cull to bring fresh blood into the team, others are calling for patience. The most recent rumour is that Doohan could be given until summer break to show what he is capable of—but no one questions that the clock is running.
Also read: “It's pretty bad”: Lewis Hamilton calls Ferrari performance ‘horrible’ after difficult Saudi Arabian GP
With the Miami Grand Prix looming, Alpine will soon have to choose whether to keep nurturing Doohan's potential or take a gamble on Colapinto's promise. One way or the other has the potential to shape the career direction of both drivers—and indicate whether Alpine is going to double down on young stars or switch direction in a messy 2025 season.