Jack Doohan — 2025 season

Jack Doohan's abbreviated 2025 Formula 1 season with Alpine was characterized by a struggle to convert qualifying efforts into race finishes or points, ultimately concluding with zero championship points from six starts and a 21st place finish in the Drivers' Championship.

Going in

Doohan, having made his Formula 1 debut in 2024, entered the 2025 season with Alpine, a team navigating the complexities of the ground-effect era. Following Red Bull's dominance in 2022–2023, the field had notably tightened in 2024, suggesting that any new driver would face intense competition, particularly in the midfield. The tunnel-floor ground-effect regulations, coupled with 18-inch wheels and simplified aero, meant that extracting performance from the car required precision and adaptability. Doohan's opportunity at Alpine was a chance to establish himself, building on the experience gained in his debut year. Drivers often face a steep learning curve in their initial seasons, as seen with Lando Norris — 2019 season during his early F1 career, highlighting the challenge of breaking into the points.

How it played out

The season began with a significant setback at the Australian Grand Prix, where Doohan retired on lap 0 due to an accident, failing to complete a single lap. This immediate DNF set a challenging tone. He followed this with his strongest performance of the season at the Chinese Grand Prix, finishing 13th from an 18th-place grid start. While not in the points, it was a demonstration of his ability to gain positions during a race. The Japanese Grand Prix saw him finish 15th, again outside the points, but completing the race distance. His Bahrain Grand Prix performance placed him 14th from an 11th-place grid slot, marking a slight regression from his qualifying position. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix proved tough, finishing 17th and a lap down. His final appearance of the season at the Miami Grand Prix ended prematurely with a collision, resulting in his second DNF. Across his six races, Doohan recorded 0 points, 0 wins, and 0 podiums, underscoring the difficulties faced by Alpine in this period and the intense competition for midfield points.

Defining moments

The most defining moments of Doohan's 2025 campaign were undoubtedly his two retirements. The accident at the Australian Grand Prix, on the very first lap, was a stark introduction to the unforgiving nature of Formula 1. Similarly, the collision at the Miami Grand Prix, which ended his participation for the season, highlighted the fine margins in midfield battles. His 13th-place finish in China, while not scoring points, was his highest placement and demonstrated his capacity to navigate a full race distance and outperform his starting position, a critical skill in the highly competitive environment. These early races are often crucial for new drivers to establish their rhythm and prove their consistency to their team and the wider paddock, as drivers like have consistently shown throughout their careers.