F1 News
Doohan takes Sergio Perez route when facing 'Argentine' elephant in the room
It has been a long-lived rumour, Alpine rookie, Jack Doohan, is allegedly under threat from Argentine star, Franco Colapinto, Alpine's reserve driver. In the face of his first full F1 season, the Australian youngster fends off speculation adopting a position that was of no avail to now former Red Bull Racing driver, Sergio Perez.
Flavio Briatore, Luca de Meo's F1 executive advisor for all Alpine related matters was certainly gleeming with joy after signing Colapinto to the French squad's ranks, which naturally did not help squash the rumours that pointed to the Argentine taking over from Doohan after a fixed number of races. Now, ahead of the season start at his home Grand Prix, the Australian faces a Colapinto shaped elephant.
"Great question," says Doohan during the FIA drivers' press conference ahead of the Australian Grand Prix. "To be honest, I haven't been thinking about any of that because there's no point thinking about rumours or commenting on them."
Doohan takes a page from the minister of defense's playbook
Many times last year, when faced with a potential exit from the Red Bull Racing team, Perez reiterated tirelessly the words, "I have a contract," which obviously didn't end up guaranteeing him a seat for this year, with Liam Lawson taking over from him as Max Verstappen's teammate. Doohan, now adopts a similar position to the Mexican driver.
"I have a contract for at least this year, if not more," reveals the Australian, insinuating that there could be more to his contract than what has been speculated on. I look forward to many home Grand Prixs and the uncertainties, you don't bother worrying about them anyway.
"I think I have to perform each and every time I'm in the car, regardless if I have one guy chasing my seat. We actually have four now, if you didn't realise, we have four reserve drivers. So all four of them, not just Franco, probably want my seat and if not Pierre's as well. And I wanted their seats while I was reserve driver the last two years," added Doohan revealing the depths of the potential pressure at Alpine, to which he's found an answer.
"I going to enjoy, to be honest, every race as. As it's my last, because I want to enjoy each and every moment I'm always in the car," the Australian concludes.