Alpine sank to a new low on the streets of Monaco at the weekend as the team’s 2025 season takes a nosedive.
With arguably the worst car on the grid in Monaco, team instability and a string of poor performances amid a resurgence from other midfield teams, it is highly debatable whether ousted Australian Jack Doohan would even benefit from racing for them at the moment.
After being promoted to a race seat for 2025 last November, Doohan was dumped from the team’s driver line-up after six grand prix.
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He was rotated out of his seat in favour of Argentine Franco Colapinto for a five-race stint, becoming the team’s “first-choice reserve” driver.
Jack Doohan walks in the Pitlane during sprint qualifying ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. Bryn Lennon/ Formula 1 via Getty Images
Doohan had a shocking start to his F1 career, faiIing to score a single championship point for a top-10 finish in his six attempts.
Despite showing glimpses of how fast he could go, even outqualifying teammate Pierre Gasly in Miami, Doohan’s horror run of incidents, including a DNF at his home race and a high-speed crash in practice in Japan, things didn’t turn out how the son of motosport legend Mick would have hoped..
Two races in, Colapinto is not going much better after a crash in Imola during qualifying before a 16th-placed finish, and a traffic-delayed 13th in Monaco.
While getting a start in Formula 1 is highly coveted and paramount for a rookie, being in a car that is consistently at the back of the pack and struggling could have a reverse effect on a young driver’s career.
To put Alpine’s decline into perspective, the team’s best lap in Monaco was 1.1 seconds slower than their fastest lap in last year’s grand prix.
This is even more stark when considering the year-on-year improvements of other midfield teams, most notably McLaren and Williams.
The limitations of the Alpine A525, combined with the continuous scrutiny and commentary surrounding his abrupt demotion, would have been chipping away at Doohan’s confidence, development and reputation.
And this would only make it harder for the 22-year-old to deliver the results needed to secure his long-term future.
While Doohan’s first response was to support the team and continue contributing behind the scenes, it is reasonable for a driver with his Formula racing resume to be seeking a new opportunity.
“Obviously, this latest chapter is a tough one for me to take because, as a professional driver, naturally, I want to be racing,” he said after being replaced.
“That said, I appreciate the team’s trust and commitment. We have long-term goals as a team to achieve, and I will continue to give my maximum efforts in any way I can to help achieve those.
“For now, I will keep my head down, keep working hard, watch with interest the next five races and keep chasing my own personal goals.”
Capitalising on his time out of the cockpit could also see Doohan safeguard his career in motorsport, with his contract with Alpine only for the 2025 season.
Doohan should use the break to reflect whether his talent could be better showcased elsewhere, potentially even in a different racing series, or if he should focus on a reserve role for a more competitive team in 2026.
So, while Alpine went into the Monaco weekend confident of a strong performance, they put up results consistent with their standing in the constructors’ championship — at the tail end.
