Jack Doohan’s future at Alpine looks uncertain before his career has even had a chance to start. Once seen as the team’s undoubted choice for a 2025 seat, he now faces serious competition from Franco Colapinto, who has just been signed as Alpine’s new reserve driver.

While Doohan has been part of Alpine’s junior programme for years, recent developments suggest he may not get the fair shot he was expecting.

Alpine’s decision to bring in Colapinto wasn’t just a routine signing. It was a move driven by Flavio Briatore, who personally ensured the Argentine joined the team as at least a third driver for now.

Colapinto made a strong impression at Williams last season, stepping in for Logan Sargeant and scoring points in two of his first four races. However, with Williams already committed to Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz for 2025, Colapinto was left without a seat. That’s when Alpine stepped in, securing him on what has been described as a multi-year deal.

This puts significant pressure on Doohan, with rumours suggesting he is on a short-term, five-race contract. If true, that would mean he has a very limited window to prove himself before Alpine starts looking elsewhere. If he fails to deliver immediately, the team could easily decide to fast-track Colapinto into a race seat instead.

While Alpine promised to give Doohan enough time to showcase what he is capable of, such promises can be difficult to uphold in Formula 1. A contract doesn’t always guarantee a seat until the end of it, as we saw with Sergio Perez last year.

On top of that, with Briatore now calling the shots, Colapinto may already have the edge. Unlike Doohan, who has been with Alpine for years and was basically left on the sideline for the whole time, Colapinto was aggressively pursued and signed to a long-term deal. That alone suggests Alpine sees him as a serious part of their future.

Another factor in all this is Williams, who have made it clear they intend to bring Colapinto back at some stage. Team boss James Vowles confirmed that while Alpine currently has control over his future, his time there may not be permanent. This raises questions about whether Alpine is investing in a driver who could eventually leave for a rival team, rather than focusing on Doohan, who has been loyal to their programme from the start.

In the end, Doohan’s fate will come down to whether Alpine truly believes in him. If he gets a chance and impresses straight away, he may still secure a long-term place. But if the team’s focus has already shifted towards Colapinto, he could find himself out of the picture before he ever gets a proper shot. It’s a tough situation, and in a sport as ruthless as Formula 1, time is not on his side.