Steiner slams Doohan exit speculation: ‘Just an exaggerated rumor’

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has labeled speculation about Jack Doohan’s short-term F1 future with Alpine as nothing more than “an exaggerated rumor.”

Doohan, who made his F1 debut in last year’s season finale in Abu Dhabi will enjoy his maiden home Grand Prix in Melbourne next weekend.

However, the young Aussie’s milestone moment comes amid a whirlwind of conjecture that Alpine reserve Franco Colapinto could replace him after just a handful of races.

The 21-year-old Argentine, who made a name for himself with an impressive nine-race stint at Williams in late 2024, joined Alpine over the winter.

The move, reportedly backed by Mercado Libre funding, has led to the belief that Doohan’s days at the Enstone squad are already numbered, with the team’s executive advisor Flavio Briatore looking to promote Colapinto to a race seat sooner rather than later.

Despite the pressure, Doohan remains publicly supported by the Alpine team, with boss Oliver Oakes expressing confidence in the young driver during pre-season testing in Bahrain.

Steiner Questions the Source of the Rumors

Speaking to Aussie website Speedcafe, Steiner expressed skepticism about the origins of the narrative that Doohan has only a handful of races to prove himself.

“I think the pressure comes from outside,” said the former Haas chief.

“A lot of these things which are happening in F1 is like someone said, ‘Oh, he has got only six races, and then it will be decided’. Somebody said it, somebody repeated it, and it got bigger and bigger.

“I don’t even know if it’s true because nobody knows where it came from. So, for me, it’s an exaggerated rumour.”

Steiner went further, casting doubt on the credibility of the speculation.

“I just don’t see where it came from,” he added. “It wasn’t an official statement, so if there’s no official statement, I always assume that somebody opened his mouth not knowing what he’s saying, just wanting a headline.

“Obviously, in F1, it’s not only him under pressure; everyone needs to perform,” Steiner reasoned. “If he performs, he will be fine, there will be no problem.”

A Call for Calm Amid the Storm

A key advantage for Doohan, Steiner believes, is the calming presence of his father, five-time motorcycling world champion Mick Doohan.

“He has got his father, Mick, the legend, around, so he will help him to go through this pressure he has got on,” he said. “When you are a race car driver, you have always got pressure.”

Steiner’s advice to Doohan is straightforward: tune out the noise and focus on the job at hand.

“Jack needs to stay calm, do what he’s good at, race cars, and then the performance will come, and he will be here to stay,” he said.

“I may have simplified it a little bit, but that’s what it is about.”

For the Italian, success in Formula 1 boils down to results, not rumors, and he’s confident that Doohan has the tools to succeed if he can block out the external distractions.

With the weight of speculation bearing down on him, Doohan will be aiming to let his driving do the talking on home soil this week, proving that he is indeed Alpine’s long-term choice.

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