Michael Schumacher with Mick Doohan (left) and David Coulthard (Image: Getty)
Michael Schumacher played a crucial role in ’s journey to F1, buying the Australian his first go-kart. Doohan, who has been a reserve driver at since 2023, has after replacing , now of .
Son of five-time 500cc motorcycle world champion Mick, Doohan knows a thing or two about racing and has a host of F3 and F2 race wins on his CV. a keen fan of two-wheeled racing, and Mick have been close friends for years and were once neighbours in Monaco. Given he was surrounded by racing royalty, it’s perhaps no surprise that Doohan wanted to follow suit. But unlike his dad, he pursued car racing instead. That was partly down to the influence of seven-time F1 champion Schumacher, who gifted the youngster and his sister go-karts when they were just three years old. Jack moved swiftly up the ranks, racing against Schumacher’s son and childhood friend Mick, who spent two seasons in F1 with Haas.
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Dohan, 22, made his F1 debut at last year’s season-ending race in Abu Dhabi, finishing 15th, and will hope to kick on alongside . However, he is under pressure to perform immediately after Alpine signed Franco Colapinto – who impressed when finishing last season with Williams – as a reserve driver.
Doohan has already faced questions about potentially being replaced mid-season, meaning a positive start at his first home Grand Prix this weekend is essential. There are suggestions he may only have a handful of races to prove himself, with Alpine executive adviser Flavio Briatore ratcheting up the pressure on the youngster.
Briatore, who previously ran the team in its former guises of Benetton and Renault, has done little quash speculation that Doohan is fighting for his future just one race into his F1 career.
He told Le Parisien: “We’ll start the year with Pierre and Jack, I can guarantee that. After that, we’ll see as the season progresses. “If there’s a driver who isn’t making progress, who isn’t bringing me results, I change him. You can’t be emotional in F1.”
Meanwhile, Schumacher’s brother and former F1 driver Ralf reckons Doohan could be replaced after just one race. He told the Backstage Boxengasse podcast: “If the boy doesn’t perform, he probably wasn’t really strong in the test either…
“From what I’ve heard, it will pass pretty quickly. Flavio knows it himself, it could be over after Australia. He doesn’t have much of a future now.”