Jack Doohan retains an outside chance of returning to an Alpine race seat for the F1 2026 season, PlanetF1.com understands.<\/p>\n
It comes despite executive adviser Flavio Briatore recently indicating that Alpine faces a straight choice between Franco Colapinto and Doohan\u2019s fellow reserve driver Paul Aron.<\/p>\n
Jack Doohan has slim hope of Alpine seat for F1 2026 season<\/p>\n
After making his debut at the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi, Doohan began the F1 2025 campaign as Pierre Gasly\u2019s Alpine teammate.<\/p>\n
However, the Australian driver was demoted by the team in the aftermath of May\u2019s Miami Grand Prix having failed to score a point across the opening six races, with former Williams driver Colapinto taking his place from Imola.<\/p>\n
Despite his impressive performances for Williams in the second half of last season, Colapinto has also struggled with the A525 car and remains without a point after 11 appearances for his new team.<\/p>\n
Analysis: Was it a mistake for Alpine to sign Jack Doohan?<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc49\u00a0Japanese GP conclusions: Verstappen\u2019s Alonso-esque rampage, McLaren tactics, the real Doohan mistake<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0Imola GP conclusions: Verstappen\u2019s Piastri lesson, McLaren\u2019s fear, Tsunoda\u2019s wobble<\/a><\/p>\n Although Colapinto is thought to bring significant sponsorship to Alpine, Briatore recently hinted that the Argentine could be replaced for the F1 2026 season.<\/p>\n In an interview ahead of last weekend\u2019s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Briatore remarked that Alpine faces a straight choice between Colapinto and Aron for next season with the team not considering options outside of its own driver roster.<\/p>\n PlanetF1.com has learned from sources close to the situation that Doohan remains a slim hope of being considered for a return to a race seat despite Briatore\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n It is understood that Briatore did not mention Doohan by name in the interview as the question put to him was geared more towards the futures of Colapinto and Aron.<\/p>\n Doohan, who is managed by Briatore, has continued to attend races with Alpine since returning to his previous role as reserve driver, appearing in the paddock at all three rounds since the summer break.<\/p>\n Alpine insisted when Doohan was replaced by Colapinto that the Australian \u2018remains an integral part of the team\u2019 and will act as \u2018first-choice reserve driver\u2019 if either Gasly and Colapinto are deemed unfit to race in 2025.<\/p>\n Doohan also spoke at the time of still having \u201clong-term goals\u201d to achieve with the team, vowing to \u201ccontinue to give my maximum efforts in any way I can to achieve those.\u201d<\/p>\n Aron, the 21-year-old Estonian racer, has been preparing for a potential F1 graduation with a number of FP1 appearances this season.<\/p>\n He deputised for Nico Hulkenberg in first practice in Britain and Hungary after Alpine struck an unusual deal for Sauber to use Aron\u2019s services.<\/p>\n Aron made his first FP1 appearance in Alpine colours at the Italian Grand Prix earlier this month when he deputised for Colapinto.<\/p>\n He was classified 20th and last in opening practice at Monza, trailing Gasly by 0.5 seconds.<\/p>\n More on Franco Colapinto and Alpine from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 Franco Colapinto news<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 Alpine news<\/a><\/p>\n