Concern over driver at F1 testing prompts Sky Sports commentator to make team demand

Formula 1 commentator David Croft said he "feels sorry" for Jack Doohan with the rookie already at risk of losing his seat.

The Australian racer has been signed as team-mate to Pierre Gasly for the 2025 season. And he already has one Formula 1 race under his belt, having made his debut in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last December.

But though he kept his nose clean and stayed out of trouble in that outing, there is already intense pressure upon the 23-year-old's shoulders. Constant speculation suggests he could be replaced by reserve driver Franco Colapinto just a few races into the new season.

The Argentine has been signed as an Alpine reserve following his nine-race stint for Williams last year. But the latter did not have any room in their driver line-up for 2025 and so he was facing a season on the sidelines if he remained.

And yet he has joined another squad which also could only offer him a reserve slot to begin with. The rumour mill suggest that, unless Doohan starts the season spectacularly, he could soon find himself ousted and Colapinto installed in his place.

Discussing that scenario, Sky Sports commentator Croft made it clear he wants to see Doohan given time to prove himself. On the live broadcast during F1 testing in Bahrain on Wednesday, he said: "Franco Colapinto is the reserve driver, Jack Doohan said in the press conference at F1 75, 'Look, I'm contracted for the year, he's the reserve driver, I've got my seat'. And that's how it should be.

"Flavio Briatore or Oli Oakes needs to come out and say, 'Jack's our man for the year'. If they do that, all the speculation stops. Let's see what happens with that one, but I do feel sorry for Jack that before we even get going, his seat is under threat.

"He says, 'I understand it because of the position I was in, I wanted to get into that seat as much as Franco wanted it'. But you have to wait your turn and I think if someone has a contract, you let them prove they can do it, or not do it - and that's not five races, you need more."

Later in the session, former Renault driver Jolyon Palmer added his two-pence as he said: "The only way he can respond is with performance. But if Jack doesn't perform in his first race or two, the questions become louder and louder and it becomes very difficult.

"He needs to start the season well. The race team there really like him, he's been around for a few years in his reserve driver capacity and he's a good guy with a good work ethic. If he can just get one strong result to start the season, he'll get his feet on the ground and the rumours will halt, I think."