Aussie Alpine rookie Jack Doohan has vowed to ‘race as if it’s my last’ as four reserve drivers chase his seat

Aussie Alpine rookie Jack Doohan knows that he has four reserve drivers knocking on his seat door as he vows to ‘enjoy every race as if it’s my last,’ REBECCA WILLIAMS writes.

Alpine rookie Jack Doohan has vowed to “enjoy every race as if it is my last” as he brushed aside ongoing speculation about his Formula 1 future on the eve of his Australian Grand Prix debut at Albert Park.

As the son of five-time motorcycle world champion Mick prepares to launch into his first full F1 season, Doohan was again forced to address talk that he is under pressure to retain his seat following the arrival of Franco Colapinto as a reserve driver.

Colapinto joined Alpine from Williams as a reserve driver in January, fuelling speculation the highly-rated Argentinian could take Doohan’s seat if the Australian faltered early.

But the day before taking to the track for the first time at Albert Park as an F1 driver, Doohan said he was paying little attention to outside noise and was simply focused on maximising every chance he had behind the wheel.

Aussie Jack Doohan is all set for his Melbourne debut. Picture: Mark Stewart

Asked if he was feeling any extra pressure ahead of his home race, Doohan said he knew he had to perform every time he was in the car and he had not one, but four Alpine reserve drivers eyeing his seat.

“I have not been thinking about any of that because as you all know, there is no point thinking about rumours or commenting on them,” Doohan said when asked about talk over his future on Thursday.

“I have a contract for at least this year, if not more. So I look forward to many home Grand Prix’.

“The uncertainties, you don’t bother worrying about them anyway. I think I have to perform each and every time I am in the car, regardless of if I have one other guy (reserve driver) chasing my seat, we actually have four now.

“If you didn’t realise, we have four reserve drivers. So all four of them, it’s not just Franco that probably wants my seat, and if not Pierre’s (Gasly) as well.

“I wanted their seats while I was a reserve driver the last two years.

“So I am going to c because I want to enjoy each and every moment when I’m always in the car.”

Alpine's reserve drivers Paul Aron (L), Ryo Hirakawa (C) and Franco Colapinto will each chase Doohan’s seat. Picture: BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP

There have been some predictions Doohan could be given just a handful of races to prove himself, while former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher suggested Alpine executive adviser Flavio Briatore could make a ruthless call early.

“I know Flavio when the boy doesn’t perform,” Schumacher told Sky Germany.

“And he probably wasn’t that strong at the test, what you hear, then it goes by pretty quickly.

“With Flavio, you know, it can be over after Australia.

“If he comes to Melbourne now and drives Pierre Gasly into the ground, then of course he can become a superstar, but it doesn’t look like it at the moment.”

As he faced questions about his future, Doohan has drawn inspiration from the past with his helmet for the Australian Grand Prix paying homage to those worn by his legendary father Mick during his racing days on two wheels.

Doohan said he felt as well-prepared as he could be for the first race of the season.

“The off-season was good. I started work early with the team. I know I’m mentally fit, physically fit,” Doohan told a packed media conference alongside Melbourne-born McLaren star Oscar Piastri and world champion Max Verstappen.

“I’ve done the groundwork. So, for me, the nerves of pressure, it shouldn’t really be an issue knowing that I have done everything I can to put my best foot forward.

“The rest, you don’t think about that, that will come as it will be, and I’m just looking forward to actually driving.”

Fellow Australian Oscar Piastri said Doohan deserve his opportunity.

“It’s always nice to have a fellow Aussie on the grid and I think Jack very much deserves it,” Piastri said.

“I think he had a lot of success in his junior career. I know the challenges he’s probably had in the last year of sitting on the sidelines. So, I know it’s never an easy thing to come back into a race seat again when you’ve spent so much time out of a seat.

“I think having time to get back into the swing of things, you’re just jumping back into any race car, you’re jumping back into an F1 car.

Oscar Piastri (C) is supportive of Doohan’s F1 call up. Picture: Saeed KHAN / AFP

“Yeah, I think time is going to be an important thing in trying to learn, but it’s always great to have another Aussie. I think Jack has proved through his junior career that he deserves a chance, so it’s nice to see him here.”

Doohan made his Formula 1 debut in last year’s season-ending race in Abu Dhabi, replacing the outgoing Esteban Ocon and he said the race had prepared him well for what to expect for the season-opening race in Melbourne.

“Abu Dhabi was important,” Doohan said.

“To be honest, going into Abu Dhabi, there was nerves and … I was already thinking about (racing) here this weekend back then.

“My feelings have changed a lot since then. (I’ve had) so much time to digest that this weekend’s going to happen … and I’ve become very comfortable and relaxed with what’s to come and it’s helped a lot.

“Abu Dhabi was great just to go through the motions and learn.”

Originally published as Aussie Alpine rookie Jack Doohan has vowed to ‘race as if it’s my last’ as four reserve drivers chase his seat