The Alpine F1 team had a challenging start to the 2025 Formula 1 season during the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, leaving the race without any points. Pierre Gasly finished 11th after battling difficult track conditions, with his teammate Jack Doohan encountering misfortune on his home debut, crashing out on the first lap.
On March 16, 2025, the much-anticipated Australian Grand Prix opened the season with ideal racing conditions on the surface but quickly deteriorated due to heavy rain, which caused chaos on the track. The weather issues resulted in the cancellation of the Formula 2 race and made the conditions particularly treacherous for drivers as they embarked on the F1 race, which other teams managed to navigate more successfully. The win went to McLaren's Lando Norris, who held off strong competition from Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Mercedes' George Russell.
Gasly expressed disappointment at not finishing within the top ten but acknowledged the tough circumstances. He stated, "After such a demanding race in difficult conditions, it’s disappointing to come away without any points. It was a lottery and for a good part of the race we were in the fight. The downpour at the end decided everything, with some drivers gaining ground thanks to an early pit stop and others, like us, trying to stay out for a few more laps.”
Doohan, racing for Alpine at his home event, quickly fell victim to the slippery track, spinning out at turn six within minutes of the start. He had started from 14th position on the grid and had been hopeful of putting up a strong performance at Albert Park, but the challenging circumstances dashed those dreams early. He later reflected on the weekend, noting, "The end was unlucky, but overall the weekend was positive. It was the result of several factors we will analyze together to learn and make sure they don't happen again."
While Doohan's race ended tragically, Gasly came to his defense, emphasizing the difficulty of the track conditions. "Jack’s been doing a very good job all weekend and it’s just a shame, it was probably throwing him in the deep end with these sorts of conditions," Gasly told SkyNews.com.au. He expressed confidence for Doohan going forward, believing he could bounce back and perform well at the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix. "I’m confident he’ll come back next week and do the job he’s been doing very well," Gasly said.
Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes also remained optimistic amid the disappointment. He pointed to some positive takeaways from the race, highlighting the competitive pace the team demonstrated throughout the weekend. He remarked, "It is easy to feel disappointed after a race like this, but there are positives to build on. We have shown we are competitive in the midfield." Oakes noted some unfortunate incidents during the race but remained hopeful about future races.
Looking to the next round of the F1 season, Oakes said, "With the double trip opening the season, we now focus on China to improve on the result obtained." This focus reflects both the urgency of the situation and the desire of the Alpine team to turn around their fortunes as they face more competitive tracks.
Speculation looms over Jack Doohan’s future with Alpine as rumors circulate about potential replacements. There are concerns about whether he can secure his position after such a rocky start; the team has reportedly considered bringing reserve driver Franco Colapinto, who has experience from the previous season racing with Williams, as one option. Alpine's executive advisor Flavio Briatore has remained non-committal on the subject, fueling discussions about Doohan's longevity with the team.
For now, the team aims to regroup following their experience at Albert Park, ready to tackle the upcoming race with renewed motivation. The Australian Grand Prix's weather proved to be both challenging and unpredictable, but it serves as a valuable learning experience as the team prepares for the next Grand Prix scheduled for March 23, 2025, in Shanghai.