Jack Doohan sacking saga takes new twist as Alpine 'make decision' after Bahrain GP
Jack Doohan's future has been a constant source of debate this season.
Jack Doohan’s seat is reportedly safe until the midway point in the season after the Australian racer produced his best performance of the year at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The 22-year-old’s future has been up in the air since he made his F1 debut in Abu Dhabi last December.
Doohan entered the season amidst a whirlwind of speculation linking new addition Franco Colapinto to his seat. Reports suggested that the rookie had just six races to prove his worth, with the Argentinian racer waiting in the wings as test and reserve driver. The noise was amplified when Doohan started the year in a miserable fashion. He crashed on the opening lap of a chaotic, rain-affected Australian Grand Prix and picked up four penalty points for two clumsy incidents in China the following weekend.
Related articles
Then, in Japan, he suffered a terrifying crash in FP2 after neglecting to close the DRS on the entry to Turn One, casting further doubts over his future. However, in Bahrain, Doohan’s fortunes improved.
The Gold Coast-born racer impressed in qualifying en route to a P11 starting grid slot and showed pace during the Grand Prix. He spent most of the race in Bahrain inside the points-paying positions but was shuffled out after a late safety car left him at a tyre disadvantage.
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
According to a report from The Race, Alpine bosses have seen enough to give Doohan more time to prove himself in his rookie season. The Australian’s dynamic with team-mate Pierre Gasly has allegedly inspired confidence, and the way he works within the organisation also played a role in swaying the decision.
This decision will allow Doohan to breathe a sigh of relief, and after a complete, error-free weekend in Bahrain, the 22-year-old now has a platform to build on heading into the final leg of this early-season triple-header at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
More F1: Lewis Hamilton snubs Ben Sulayem in brutal fashion as FIA chief left red-faced
More F1: Helmut Marko admits defeat as Red Bull pass verdict Max Verstappen will hate
More F1: Max Verstappen calls for investigation as Lewis Hamilton sends frank message
“He's done a good job this weekend and in general,” team principal Oliver Oakes said on Sunday. “I know Japan FP1 caught him out a bit. But I think this weekend, particularly throughout qualifying, Q1, the first run of Q2 - I think the last run in Q2, he is a little bit disappointed because it was just half a tenth [away from Q3].
“But then in the race as well, those first two stints, he was doing a really good job. At the end there, I think it was tricky. The safety car bunched everyone up. Competitiveness-wise, it was hard with those cars around you. But I think he's had a good weekend.”
