Guenther Steiner has defended Jack Doohan (Image: Getty)
has brushed off reports that could lose his seat just six races into his rookie campaign as an ‘exaggerated rumour’. The young Australian racer is under immense pressure with waiting in the wings to replace him. Doohan made his Grand Prix debut in Abu Dhabi, replacing the Haas-bound , but struggled to make a significant impact at the Yas Marina Circuit.
The 22-year-old now faces a potential exit from the grid during the early stages of the season if he can’t show significant progression. However, former Haas team principal Steiner is not concerned about Doohan’s short-term F1 future. “I think the pressure comes from outside,” he told . “A lot of these things which are happening in F1 is like someone said, ‘Oh, he has got only six races, and then it will be decided’.
“Somebody said it, somebody repeated it, and it got bigger and bigger. I don’t even know if it’s true because nobody knows where it came from. So, for me, it’s an exaggerated rumour.”
He continued: “I just don’t see where it came from. It wasn’t an official statement, so if there’s no official statement, I always assume that somebody opened his mouth not knowing what he’s saying, just wanting a headline. Obviously, in F1, it’s not only him under pressure; everyone needs to perform. If he performs, he will be fine, there will be no problem.”
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Doohan insists he is not feeling the heat (Image: Getty)
Offering his advice to the young Australian, he said: “Jack needs to stay calm, do what he’s good at, race cars, and then the performance will come, and he will be here to stay. I may have simplified it a little bit, but that’s what it is about.”
If Flavio Briatore and Oliver Oakes do decide to make a change early this season, there will be no shortage of options to replace Doohan. Colapinto is the leading contender after Alpine made a significant financial investment to sign the Argentinian racer from Williams on a long-term contract.
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Elsewhere, Alpine have also signed Paul Aron, who was released by junior team ahead of an impressive Formula Two campaign in 2024. He has long-standing connections to team principal Oakes and will be eager to impress.
Doohan, however, insists he is not feeling the heat. “You’re always going to have pressure on your shoulders because you’re in such a cut-throat sport,” he told media, including Express Sport. “Whatever pressure there may be, I look forward to enjoying that, embracing it, and just enjoying my Formula One season.”