Flavio Briatore has openly conceded that Jack Doohan's performance will soon come under scrutiny.
Franco Colapinto, the charismatic Argentine reserve on a $20m loan from Williams to Alpine, is in Melbourne as speculation swirls about how long he'll wait before claiming rookie Doohan's seat.
"Jack didn't impress in his first race in Abu Dhabi," Red Bull adviser Dr Helmut Marko remarked to Kronen Zeitung newspaper.
"There's talk of six races where he has to prove himself," he added.
In his latest comments, published on Friday by Italy's Corriere della Sera, Alpine adviser Briatore made no effort to downplay the uncertainty over Doohan's future.
"Doohan starts," he said, "then there will be a review of where we are.
"I see the drivers as the CEOs of the team - the ones who bring the results. A thousand people work for them, so they must feel responsible.
"In Formula 1, the balance sheets are made every Sunday."
Briatore appears more satisfied with Pierre Gasly for now, though Marko believes the Frenchman is also feeling the heat from Briatore.
"It's not just Colapinto," he noted, "but also Paul Aron in the background."
Australian Doohan, 22, agrees with Marko that both he and Gasly face pressure this season.
"I have one guy chasing my seat, but we actually have four now - we have four reserves," he said in Melbourne. "All four of them, not just Franco, probably want my seat, and if not mine, Pierre's as well.
"So, to be honest, I'm going to enjoy every race as if it's my last."
