Oakes “proud” of Doohan “being punchy” with media amid Colapinto rumours

Already under pressure, Doohan has been fighting off rumours that Colapinto might snatch his seat midway through the season – and Oakes has been impressed with his driver's attitude

Jack Doohan’s first months as a full-time Alpine driver have been overshadowed by constant speculation about his future, with reserve Franco Colapinto repeatedly linked as a potential replacement.

Wwidespread rumours suggesting that the Australian could be out of a seat as early as five races into the season lead to inevitable questions about the pressure he's facing.

During the F1 75 press conference in London, Doohan shrugged off suggestions that Colapinto’s presence in the team added any extra stress - responding in a particularly bold manner.

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That approach has impressed Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes.

“He's alright. I think I was quite proud of him being punchy with you all,” Oakes told media in Bahrain when Motorsport.com asked him about Doohan’s handling of the speculation. “I actually feel for him because I get that everybody wants the clickbait and that’s a discussion topic. But I think he should be given a bit of space to just get on with it for a few rounds.”

Jack Doohan, Alpine

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images

At the same time, Oakes insisted that Doohan’s fate remained in the Australian’s hands, stating that if the 21-year-old delivers on track, there will be no reason for a mid-season change.

“No matter what driver you are, in any category, there's pressure,” Oakes said. “It doesn't matter whether that's in F1 or even in the junior categories. I think because Franco did a good job last year, he's got a big fan base, so it's natural that people want to talk about that. But from the other side, I think, as a team, we're quite lucky to have three reserves who are very good, and that puts us in a strong position.

“And in terms of whether it's nice or kind to Jack, I was pretty open that he's driving a Formula 1 car - that’s every boy's dream, but it’s also his job. And for me, that's pretty simple.”

Oakes also praised Doohan’s ability to "block out the noise", reiterating that his focus should remain solely on delivering results.

“At the end of the day, like every driver, you’ve got to deliver, but I think he's doing a really good job at blocking out the noise and just getting on with it,” he added.

While rumours continue to swirl, Oakes declined to outright deny the existence of a contract clause that could see Doohan replaced after five races.

“It’s not my line,” he responded when pressed on whether Alpine had given Doohan a strict deadline to prove himself. “I think we’ve been really honest as a team about what we’re doing. I keep saying it, but it would be nice to just let Jack get on with it - and also let the team get on with it, to be honest.”