F1 driver gets sack verdict from team boss as replacement waiting in the wings

team principal Oliver Oakes has confirmed that there are no immediate plans to replace with . A sponsor of the young Argentine previously suggested that the former Williams racer will make his debut for his new team at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in round seven of the campaign. Doohan's future has been in question since the end of the 2024 campaign, when he made his debut in Abu Dhabi.

Five race weekends into his F1 career, and he is still waiting to score his first points. Making matters worse is the fact that Colapinto, who penned a long-term contract with Alpine earlier this year, is waiting in the wings to replace him. Before the race in Miami, one of Colapinto's sponsors suggested that the 21-year-old would get behind the wheel of the A525 in Imola, although team principal Oakes has dismissed these claims.

"Yeah, I mean, look, I saw it like everyone else," he said after free practice in Miami. "I think it was a sponsor from Argentina, off camera, giving his view on sort of Franco, when he's going to be in the car.

"I think obviously, there are a lot of people in Argentina who would like him in the car this Sunday. I think we've been pretty open as a team that that's just noise out there. Jack needs to continue doing a good job, but I think obviously it's natural that there is always that speculation there."

Asked if he could confirm that Doohan would drive in Imola, he added: "Yeah. I mean, as it is today, Jack is our driver along with Pierre [Gasly]. I think we've been pretty clear on that. I mean, we always evaluate it, but yeah, today that is the case."

Oakes' use of the word "today" might give Doohan some cause for concern, but the Gold Coast-born driver will be focused on setting himself up for sprint weekend success at the Miami International Autodrome. He heads into Saturday's action six points behind team-mate Gasly in the Drivers' Championship standings.

"To be honest, the worst of it was in Jan, pre-season, when there was the most noise," Doohan said when asked whether the rumours were affecting him. "Nothing else going on, it was the talk of the town, but I think there was a new narrative each weekend.

"I knew what was irrelevant and what wasn't true, and just focused on my job. Even in the difficult times, I didn't really ever feel affected by it. I had a good group of people around me. The team were also very supportive. I never had that or felt that on the back of my mind."