Second F1 driver tipped to be axed after Liam Lawson with further 'changes' expected
Martin Brundle has claimed another driver is at risk.
Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Formula 1, Liam Lawson, Alpine
Tom Jenkins
Topics: Formula 1, Liam Lawson, Alpine
Martin Brundle has claimed that a second driver could be set to lose their seat in the early stages of the 2025 season following Liam Lawson's demotion.
Lawson became Red Bull's shortest-serving driver ever when it was officially announced he would be replaced by Yuki Tsunoda for the Japanese Grand Prix.
The Kiwi was only given two races on tracks he had never driven to prove himself, with Christian Horner claiming the decision to remove Lawson was due to a 'duty of care'.
Despite being removed just over week after the first race, Lawson wasn't the driver favourite to lose his seat first, and Brundle believes another sacking could be around the corner.
Advert
Writing in his post-China column for Sky Sports, Brundle highlighted Alpine's Jack Doohan as a driver who is at risk of losing his seat alongside Lawson.
“There was some fairly desperate racing, blocking, and overtaking going on down the field,” Brundle wrote.
“Not least by Liam Lawson and Jack Doohan who are in many ways unfairly feeling exposed in their drives so early in the season. There could well be changes.”
Doohan was promoted from Alpine's reserve driver for the 2025 season, however, following the announcement the French team signed Franco Colapinto on a long-term contract.
Colapinto was one of the stars of the 2024 season when he replaced Logan Sargeant at Williams from the Italian Grand Prix.
The Argentinian's performances looked enough to earn a full-time seat, making his deal with Alpine raise eyebrows across the paddock.
Speaking at F1 75 prior to the first race of the season, Doohan was bombarded with questions over his future in the sport despite being a rookie himself.
Asked if he felt undermined by Colapinto’s arrival, he testily replied: “Is that a question?
“I’ve been told he’s a reserve driver,” he reinforced.
“I was a 21-year-old reserve driver last year with a long-term contract, but no I don’t [feel undermined, ed.]. Maybe I should, I don’t know. I don’t really understand how that’s a question, but definitely not.”
Doohan is yet to score a point in the opening two rounds of the season and has already been handed four penalty points for collisions during his time on track.