Steiner: If Duane gets results, there won't be any problems.

      This weekend, Jack Duane will start his home Australian Grand Prix for the first time as an Alpine F1 racer and, in theory, should spend a full season in the Renault factory team. However, all this is happening against the background of persistent rumors that after the first few races he may be replaced by reserve rider Franco Colapinto.

      Flavio Briatore, who has full authority in personnel matters, has repeatedly touched on this topic in various interviews in one form or another and made it clear that he does not rule out such a development, although it is he who is engaged in Duane's career.

      But Gunther Steiner, the former head of Haas F1, believes that the likelihood of this scenario should not be exaggerated.

      "I think this pressure is coming from some external sources,– Speedcafe quoted him as saying. – Similar things happen a lot in Formula 1. If someone says, "Yes, he only has six races left, and then a decision will be made," and they immediately start repeating it, so the rumors grow.

      I don't know if this is true at all, because no one knows how such conversations started. From my point of view, these rumors are clearly overblown."

      In any case, Oliver Oakes, the head of Alpine F1, emphasized during the pre-season tests that the team supports Duane and insisted that he had no doubt about Jack's potential.

      In addition, according to Steiner, one should not underestimate the authority and influence of Mick Duane, the father of the 22-year-old racer, a former five-time world champion in motorcycle racing.

      "Of course, Jack is not the only one under pressure in Formula 1 – everyone needs to show results," Gunther continued. – If he shows them, everything will be fine, there will be no problems. His father is next to him, and Mick Duane is a legendary man, and he will help Jack cope with this pressure.

      Drivers always have to work under pressure. But in this case, I just don't see the source of the rumors. There was no official statement, and if there is none, I always assume that it was just someone who started the rumor, not knowing what he was talking about, but just for the sake of a loud headline.

      Jack needs to stay calm, do what he knows how to do well, i.e. drive racing cars, and the results will come and he will stay in the team. Maybe I'm oversimplifying a bit, but that's exactly the point."