Doohan reveals 'strange' Schumacher Alpine experience

Jack Doohan has labelled an Alpine F1 shootout with Haas outcast Mick Schumacher as "strange."

Doohan and Schumacher, who are good friends away from the track, took part in a test day with Alpine recently, with the team needing to field a replacement for Esteban Ocon, who had opted to depart and join Haas. 

Serving as reserve driver and WEC driver respectively, Doohan and Schumacher conducted the test before the British GP in the 2022 machine that Ocon and Fernando Alonso guided to fourth place in that year's constructors' championship.

Doohan was ultimately promoted to be Pierre Gasly's team-mate for 2025, leaving Schumacher's only option for an F1 return the vacant Stake/Audi seat alongside Nico Hulkenberg.

“It was strange, but, for me, I kept it business [only]," he told F1. 

"I didn’t think of it in any other way than, 'At the end of the day, I’m just going to hop into the car and drive as fast as I can'.

"It doesn’t matter who’s next to me. It doesn’t mean I’m going to be any different outside the car.

"But when I hop in, I have the mindset to be as fast as I can.

"Whatever the outcome was of that, I think I positioned myself to make sure that I was first in line to get this seat, regardless of who it was next to me."

Doohan chases rabbit

Doohan had to wait to be confirmed at Alpine as it launched a bid to try and sign Carlos Sainz before he opted to join Williams.

This, in turn, unlocked the chance for Doohan to be promoted - something he knew was possible from the start of the year.

"After the first quarter of the year, I knew there was… let’s say, a rabbit to chase, a possibility that I can fight for this," he said.

"It was no given task. There were obviously a lot of people [drivers] that were still out of contract and so much going on. 

"I had to be very patient, bide my time and make my case, making sure I maximised every time I got behind the wheel.

"I’m grateful that the patience paid off, as well as not racing [in 2024] because that is a risk, but potentially if I didn’t take that risk, [promotion] wouldn’t have happened."