Jack Doohan shares what he would change about this season despite earning a 2025 Alpine seat

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Jack Doohan will be the latest rookie to join the Formula 1 grid as he has grabbed a spot for 2025.

The Australian will join Alpine for next season as the second newcomer to Formula 1, with it being anticipated that another two rookies may be set to join Doohan and Oliver Bearman on the grid next year.

Doohan will replace Esteban Ocon – who will join Bearman at Haas – and partner up with Pierre Gasly.

It seems that the 22-year-old has already had a positive on his new teammate, as Gasly praised Doohan’s impact in the simulator for his impressive performance at Zandvoort.

Alpine’s statement about the signing alluded to the fact that Doohan’s deal is only a one-year contract, so the Australian will be under pressure to keep his seat beyond 2025 when the revolutionary new regulations enter the sport in 2026.

Jack Doohan ‘wasn’t able to’ race in 2024

While Doohan has been doing extensive work for Alpine in the simulator and other tests as their reserve driver, speaking with Speedcafe, the 22-year-old revealed what he would be changed about his 2024 campaign.

Doohan enjoyed success in both Formula 3 and Formula 2. He finished second in the former in 2021 and came third in the latter last season.

This year, the Australian has not competed in a full-time series and has instead committed his time to his reserve role with Alpine. Doohan revealed that he would have raced if he had the chance, but his busy schedule with the French outfit prevented him from doing so.

“The decision on not racing, I probably would have raced if I could have,” he said.

“But with my testing, the sim, and needing to be at the track for every single day, I wasn’t able to.

“So I looked at that, obviously the team wanting me to be at the track and wanting me to focus on Formula 1, as a good thing.

“The whole time, I completely had faith that I was going to be on the grid next year,” he added.

“I really thought it was 100 percent going to happen. I don’t know how, but that’s all I was thinking.

“I only think that now, when I look back, but in the moment that was completely my goal and my mindset – I didn’t really think of anything else.”

Ralf Schumacher slammed Alpine’s announcement of Jack Doohan

The signing of Doohan has excited F1 fans as a rookie gets his chance to prove himself, but there was one driver that was taken aback by the announcement.

Mick Schumacher had emerged as a potential candidate for the Alpine seat and an F1 return, having competed for the team in the WEC this season.

The German found out that he would not be given the drive via social media, with his uncle Ralf Schumacher hitting out at the manner of which Doohan was announced.

Mick Schumacher had been linked with the Williams seat after Logan Sargeant was dropped after the Dutch Grand Prix. After F2 driver Franco Colapinto was called up to replace the American for the remainder of the season, Mick Schumacher could miss out on an F1 seat entirely.