![\"Doohan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/XPB_1397915_HiRes.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJack Doohan says the decision to replace him at Alpine was already made before he drove the car. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJack Doohan says the decision to replace him at Alpine was already made before he drove the car. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
The Australian revealed that the call regarding his Formula 1 career was made earlier than many realised, admitting the situation made the experience of losing his seat even more difficult to process.<\/p>\n
Doohan started seven grands prix for Alpine, beginning with the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi as a replacement for Esteban Ocon before six races at the start of 2025.<\/p>\n
After failing to score points, he was replaced by Franco Colapinto<\/a> after the Miami Grand Prix and later parted ways with the team at the end of the season<\/a>.<\/p>\n Speaking to Speedcafe and select media at Albert Park, Doohan suggested the outcome had effectively been locked in before the Melbourne weekend this time a year ago.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. I think, as decisions were obviously made, not when they were announced, it was a lot earlier in the year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was, to be honest, made before I was even jumping into the car for the first time \u2014 before Melbourne.<\/p>\n \u201cSo that\u2019s when it\u2019s a little bit more brutal when obviously there\u2019s extreme outside measures that take control of the aspect.\u201d<\/p>\n Doohan said the difficulty he endured came from how the situation was portrayed publicly compared to what he understood internally.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then it\u2019s tried to be portrayed in a way that isn\u2019t like that,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that\u2019s where it\u2019s a bit twisted and a bit dark in a way. You know, if it\u2019s gonna be directed in a certain way, then it may as well just be completely owned, right? Not sort of portrayed into different circumstances. So that\u2019s where it\u2019s more brutal.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, the aspect of performance counts, I completely agree with and understand that, but when it\u2019s deeper than that, and not, let\u2019s say, as painted as it is on paper, for sure it\u2019s a little bit more difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the experience, the 23-year-old said he learned valuable lessons about handling adversity while continuing to race under intense scrutiny.<\/p>\n \u201cDifficult to say [or] to pinpoint on one thing,\u201d he said of his biggest takeaway.<\/p>\n \u201cI learnt a lot about how to handle the adversity in those difficult moments. To work through it. When fate is already decided before, or let\u2019s say it\u2019s known, and working through that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow, shall I get back into a car at some point, I will have really been through \u2013 I hope \u2013 the worst that it can really get from outside the car perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n Doohan admitted the experience may also shape how he approaches trust in future team relationships, particularly after believing his contract provided greater security.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019ll be hopefully quite a bit easier by the person in charge,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd also of understanding typically that contracts are, 9 times out of 10 are obliged with. And so it\u2019ll also come with time.<\/p>\n \u201cTrust is difficult in all circumstances, especially from that time. You know, being, let\u2019s say, secure for quite a few years, or believing so.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd even with everything going on in the media \u2013 me, personally, understanding that there\u2019s physically no way possible that I could be out of the car, because I\u2019m contractually committed for quite an extensive time with no loopholes. So, that is then also difficult to capture.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/XPB_1398102_HiRes.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/285241.gif\")