$17m sponsor detail saving Jack Doohan's Formula 1 seat with Alpine
Jack Doohan's spot on the Formula 1 grid appears secure for 2025 and it's all thanks to a $17m sponsor detail.
The Aussie driver's seat at Alpine has been in the spotlight with reserve driver Franco Colapinto looming as his replacement.
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Many believed the Argentinian should have been given the seat alongside Pierre Gasly following his impressive stint with Williams in the latter stages of the 2024 season.
Despite enduring an incident filled start to his rookie season, which has featured two heavy crashes, the 22-year-old Aussie showed promising signs during the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Doohan was also reportedly given only a handful of races to prove he belonged in the seat, but former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher believes he is locked in thanks to one major component … financial backing.
Schumacher however delivered a brutal truth bomb to the Aussie, declaring he wasn't a driver who would reach the upper tiers of the sport.
'I don't want to say it quite as harshly as Dr. Marko said that he's a Class C driver,' Schumacher said on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast.
'He is not a Class C driver, certainly, he's a good driver, but, in my opinion, not good enough for Formula 1.
'It is still a bit early of course, and he has a very experienced teammate in Gasly, who is also settled into the team and is receiving support.
'That's why it's maybe a bit harsh and unfair, but I would say that in relation to the other rookies, you can see that he's someone who might not necessarily be competing for the world championship at some point, so to speak.
'And if the money doesn't come in from Colapinto, then I don't think he will be exchanged for the time being, because I hear Doohan also has a sponsor worth $17.7m AUD in the bag, and that has to be paid out somehow.
'I can imagine that he will survive somehow, but Flavio (Briatore, Alpine Executive advisor) is always good for a surprise.'
While Doohan may have financial backing behind him, results must follow if he's to remain on the grid.
The Aussie crashed out in the Australian Grand Prix, finished 15th in China before being elevated to 13th place.
He was then lucky to walk away from a high-speed crash during a practice session in Japan before he recovered to finish 15th in the race.
He showed promising signs in Bahrain, narrowly missing out on Q3 as he qualified 11th before slipping back in the race to finish 14th.
During the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix he failed to make inroads as he started and crossed the line in 17th.
Alpine currently sit equal last in the constructors standings, tied with Kick Sauber on six points. All of which were scored by Gasly during the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Doohan will have another chance to show he belongs when the grid takes to Miami with the race set to get underway on May 5 from 6am (AEST).
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