Alpine driver Jack Doohan has issued a agency response to questions on his long-term Components 1 future after his crew signed Franco Colapinto as a reserve driver.
Alpine made a transfer for Colapinto to bolster its future choices, with the Argentinian one in every of three reserve drivers for this yr alongside Paul Aron and Ryo Hirakawa.
Colapinto typically impressed on his nine-race stint for Williams final yr, and has additionally introduced Argentinian sponsor Mercado Libre with him to the Enstone-based squad.
Having such a confirmed F1 calibre driver able to go has fuelled remous that recommended Doohan, who has only one begin to his title ultimately yr’s Abu Dhabi season finale, solely has a number of races to show his price and could possibly be changed at brief discover if he does not ship immediately.
However forward of F1’s seventy fifth anniversary launch at London’s O2 Area, Doohan shrugged off any ideas Colapinto’s arrival is already placing him beneath extra stress than some other debutant.
“No, I have been instructed he is a reserve driver,” he mentioned. “And I believe, regardless, you are one in every of 20 Components 1 drivers on this planet. I do know once I was a go-karter, in Components 3, Components 2 – I’d do something to be in Components 1 and sacrifice every part.
“So, [whether] it is somebody contained in the crew, outdoors the crew, anybody that is performing effectively, you are all the time going to have stress in your shoulders since you’re in such a cut-throat sport.
“However no matter stress there could also be, I look ahead to having fun with that, embracing it and simply having fun with my Components 1 season.”
Franco Colapinto, Williams
Picture by: Erik Junius
Pressed on the subject by one other journalist on whether or not Alpine hiring the 21-year-old Colapinto undermined his place, Doohan snapped again: “Is {that a} query? I used to be a 21-year-old reserve driver [too] final yr. With a long-term contract. However no, I do not. Perhaps I ought to? I do not know. I do not actually perceive that as a query, however undoubtedly not.”
Talking to Motorsport.com earlier this yr, Alpine crew boss Oliver Oakes already insisted Doohan would get a “honest likelihood” to impress on the squad, and Pierre Gasly additionally voiced his help for his new team-mate.
“I do know Jack is a good particular person and an amazing driver; I’ve seen him develop and we have given him his likelihood,” the Frenchman added.
“I will not remark any additional. As a rookie, it is by no means simple to get into F1, and there is no have to make issues extra sophisticated than they have to be.”
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Filip Cleeren
Components 1
Jack Doohan
Franco Colapinto
Alpine
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