Valtteri Bottas has weighed in on one of F1’s biggest developing storylines (Image: Getty)
has described under-fire recruit as a ‘promising’ talent, backing the 21-year-old to ‘prove himself’ when the 2025 season gets underway in Melbourne in March.
Doohan was snapped up to replace the Haas-bound during the 2024 season after impressing in his year on the sidelines as a test and reserve driver, but despite making his F1 debut at the season finale in Abu Dhabi, the Australian is reportedly already on the chopping block.
Alpine have signed Franco Colapinto from Williams ahead of the 2025 campaign following reports that Flavio Briatore could replace Doohan with the Argentinian starlet after just six Grands Prix, should the Gold Coast-born racer fail to impress.
Speaking to Kym Illman’s YouTube channel about Doohan’s plight, Bottas said: “It’s too early to say, I think time will show in the end. Jack is a promising, smart kid, he seems fast, and yeah, he’s got his chance to prove himself, which I believe he will do.”
The questions surrounding Doohan’s future are more than media speculation. Briatore himself addressed the reports, refusing to rule out the possibility of a mid-season driver change.
“We’ll start the year with Pierre and Jack, I can guarantee that. After that, we’ll see as the season progresses,” he told Le Parisien. “I have to get the team in the right condition to get results, and the driver is the one who has to conclude the work of nearly 1,000 people behind him. Everyone works for just two people.”
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Jack Doohan is under pressure heading into his rookie season (Image: Getty)
Even if Doohan does perform from the get-go in 2025, he will still have Colapinto breathing down his neck for the foreseeable future. According to the former Williams man’s agent, Maria Catarineu, he has signed a five-year contract with his new employers.
Catarineu’s words should serve as a warning to Doohan – Briatore’s head has been turned by Colapinto. “It took a while because negotiations are sometimes complex, as in this case,” she told . “But Flavio was always very persistent, and in the last few weeks, he was very intense.
“The agreement was reached because both parties got what they wanted: Flavio got to sign Franco and James [Vowles] was able to give Franco the chance to race, since the Williams’ driver pairing has long-term contracts.
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“Briatore saw Franco the day he debuted in F1. When we spoke for the first time, he told us: ‘I see talent. I want him.’ He followed all the races closely and Franco’s evolution as an F1 driver in the nine Grand Prix he was able to race.
“[He] is a very interesting character, with a lot of personality; very passionate and very persuasive. He always had Franco in the spotlight and wanted to have him at all costs.”