Doohan receives harrowing F1 career warning

1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has warned Jack Doohan he must perform right away at Alpine or risk being dropped by the team.

Doohan was signed to replace the Esteban Ocon, who has departed for Haas, and was handed his grand prix debut in Abu Dhabi last year.

However, questions over his future arose when Alpine signed Franco Colapinto on a multi-year deal.

Colapinto will carry out reserve driver duties with the Enstone-based outfit this year but his strong performances at Williams in the second half of the 2024 campaign have left him linked with a comeback to the grid.

Doohan hasn't raced in a full-time capacity since his third Formula 2 campaign in 2023, which Villeneuve has noted as a disadvantage.

“Doohan is under a lot of pressure because he’s been an extra driver for too many years doing testing and so basically not racing,” Villeneuve told yaysweepstakes.com.

“Not racing for long, there's always the risk that you might lose your mojo and you become complacent so that's a little bit difficult. 

“The race he did last year at the end of the season wasn't impressive. You know you get one race at the end of the season you have to be a bit tougher.”

Villeneuve has warned Doohan that simply being close to team-mate Pierre Gasly's pace won't be enough to cause a stir at Alpine.

“It wasn't impressive when you put him under that pressure so it will be good to see how he reacts to that pressure now,” he added. “I hope it goes well. You know he's a nice guy. 

“He's passionate. He's been working hard at it for a long time. He's prepared himself and it would be a shame if all this preparation came to nothing.

“He has to drive out of his skin. He has to be at the worst on Gasly’s level. Like, not even behind, on his level. 

“Like, a few hundredths in front or behind, but just there, at worst. And he actually needs to beat him.”