Ex-Formula 1 driver Robert Doornbos believes that the pressure on Jack Doohan will soon become too great and that the Australian will have to give up his cockpit during the course of the year
After several experts have already expressed doubts that Doohan will still be sitting in the Alpine at the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi, Robert Doornbos has now made a similar prediction in an interview with the Dutch edition of Motorsport.com.
The former Formula 1 driver sees bad omens for Doohan “because he actually no longer comes to Formula 1 completely relaxed.” Admittedly, a cockpit in the premier class is a “childhood dream”, the ex-Red Bull driver reveals from his own experience.
“But contracts are also part of that. And if you only get a temporary contract, the pressure is on,” said Doornbos, referring to the rumors that Doohan only has a job guarantee for the first few races at Alpine.
Doornbos fears: ‘The pressure will be too great’
“The story now is that there are only six races,” said the 43-year-old, who also recalled that Franco Colapinto Doohan is ‘already breathing down his neck’. The former Williams driver was signed by Alpine as a replacement driver for 2025.
But some people already assume that it is only a matter of time before he replaces Doohan in the main cockpit. “So I think the pressure will be too much,” says the Dutchman, who also points out in this context that the season opener takes place in Melbourne.
Doohan will therefore start the new season with his home race, which, according to Doornbos, will increase the pressure even more. It is therefore a “delicate” situation for the Australian. “I think he won’t finish the season,” fears Doornbos.
The Dutchman himself competed in a total of eleven Formula 1 races for Minardi and Red Bull in 2005 and 2006. However, he never scored a point, his best result being two twelfth places in the Red Bull.
In the worst case, Jack Doohan’s Formula 1 career could be even shorter.