Flavio Briatore has suggested that Jack Doohan's immediate future in Formula 1 may no longer be guaranteed.
On the face of it, everything was going well for the son of MotoGP legend Mick Doohan, after taking the wheel from Esteban Ocon in the Alpine in Abu Dhabi, then moving on to post-season testing.
“Extremely grateful for the knowledge and experience gained – a day I had dreamed of my entire life,” said Doohan after his Grand Prix debut last weekend.
“A big thank you to the whole Alpine team for the weekend, I couldn’t be happier heading into my first season in 2025.”
However, as the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix took place, a rumor circulated in the paddock that the new team advisor had only put Doohan in the car to “pressure test” the Australian.
Related speculation suggested that Briatore was also using the Doohan situation to put pressure on Williams and Franco Colapinto's sponsors.
Williams boss James Vowles has imposed a mid-December deadline for reaching a possible deal with Alpine over the Argentine's release.
Auto Hebdo asked Briatore about the rumors, which could see Doohan replaced by Colapinto in 2025.
“My job is to put Alpine back on top,” replied the flamboyant Italian without denying. “There is never room for feelings in Formula 1.”
Colapinto, who is said to have amassed an impressive number of Argentine sponsors, was seen chatting with Briatore in Abu Dhabi.
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