Red Bull Formula 1 advisor Helmut Marko was not excited by the performance of Jack Doohan as he finished 15th in his debut for Alpine.
The Australian signed up to drive alongside Pierre Gasly for the 2025 season after fellow French driver Esteban Ocon left for Haas.
However, Alpine announced last week that Franco Colapinto would be joining the Enstone-based outfit in a reserve driver role – sparking rumours that Doohan could be replaced by the Argentine early in the season if he doesn’t perform.
Doohan expressed how he was a “little bit disappointed” after qualifying last for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he made an unexpected early debut after Ocon and Alpine parted ways early.
But after a tough race, he said he was “super happy with the whole experience”.
Marko however, speaking to F1 Insider believes: “There should have been more.”
Despite failing to impress the 81-year-old, Doohan did enough in the eyes of former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer.
“He didn’t do a lot, did he? But he didn’t do a lot wrong either,” the Briton told the Chequered Flag podcast.
“It’s fine, it’s difficult to parachute someone in for a final race.
“Abu Dhabi is a nice track with big run-offs but I’m looking forward to seeing what he and all the rookies can do next season.”
Briatore: ‘You can’t be emotional in F1’
Doohan only made his debut in F1 earlier than anticipated after Ocon made an early exit to test for Haas in the post-season outing.
So expectations for the 21-year-old should not have been that high anyway.
That didn’t stop Alpine executive director Flavio Briatore, before the Colapinto announcement, from refusing to offer any guarantees over his future after being asked if Doohan would complete a full season in 2025.
“The only thing we can be sure of is death!” he told Le Parisien.
“We’ll start the year with Pierre and Jack, I can guarantee that.
“After that, we’ll see as the season progresses.
“If there’s a driver who isn’t making progress, who isn’t bringing me results, I change him.
“You can’t be emotional in F1.”
A recent report by F1 Insider suggests that Alpine paid £8.4m for Colapinto’s services next season – a significant fee for a reserve team driver.
But if Briatore makes the brutal decision to drop Doohan, the potential sponsorship deals that come with Colapinto could help recoup some of that money spent on him.
READ MORE: Alpine insists Jack Doohan to begin F1 2025 despite Franco Colapinto arrival
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