In a significant shake-up ahead of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, Alpine F1 Team has confirmed that Franco Colapinto will replace Jack Doohan for the next five races of the 2025 Formula One season. The announcement marks a pivotal moment for both drivers as the team seeks to enhance its competitive edge in a tightly contested field.
Colapinto, the 21-year-old Argentine driver, steps into the car following a promising stint with Williams last season, where he scored points in both Baku and Austin while racing as a replacement for Logan Sargeant. His promotion comes as a response to Doohan's struggles in the early part of the season, where he failed to score any points in six races and faced two retirements.
Flavio Briatore, Alpine's executive advisor, made the announcement on May 7, 2025, stating, "Having reviewed the opening races of the season, we have come to the decision to put Franco in the car alongside Pierre (Gasly) for the next five races." Briatore emphasized the need to rotate the driver lineup as the team prepares for a critical 2026 season. "With the field being so closely matched this year, and with a competitive car, which the team has drastically improved in the past 12 months, we see the need to rotate our line-up," he added.
Doohan, son of Australian MotoGP legend Mick Doohan, expressed gratitude for the opportunity he received from Alpine but acknowledged the disappointment of being sidelined. "I am very proud to have achieved my lifelong ambition to be a professional Formula One driver and I will forever be grateful to the team for helping me achieve this dream," he said. "Obviously, this latest chapter is a tough one for me to take because, as a professional driver, naturally I want to be racing. That said, I appreciate the team's trust and commitment. For now, I will keep my head down, keep working hard, and keep chasing my own personal goals."
The decision to replace Doohan follows a series of underwhelming performances, including crashes in Australia, China, and Miami, where he failed to finish the race. In contrast, Colapinto's solid performances in his previous nine-race stint with Williams, where he finished eighth in Azerbaijan, made him a strong candidate for promotion. The team hopes that Colapinto can bring a fresh perspective and energy as they aim to improve their standings.
Colapinto, who has been serving as a reserve driver for Alpine since the start of the season, expressed his excitement about the new opportunity. "Firstly, I want to thank the team for giving me the opportunity to drive competitively for the next five races. I will work hard with the team to prepare for the next race in Imola and the upcoming triple-header, which will no doubt be intense and a big challenge for everyone," he stated. "I have stayed sharp, and I am as ready as possible with the team's race support testing programme, as well as on the simulator at Enstone. I will do my best to get up to speed quickly and give it my all to deliver the best possible results alongside Pierre."
With the imminent driver changes, Alpine is also grappling with internal shifts, as team principal Oliver Oakes resigned just days before this announcement. Briatore, who previously faced a lifetime ban from F1 due to the “Crashgate” scandal, has returned to the forefront of the team, taking over Oakes' responsibilities while continuing to serve as an executive advisor. This leadership change adds another layer of complexity to the team's dynamics as they navigate the remainder of the season.
The upcoming Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix will be a critical test for both Colapinto and the Alpine team. With expectations high, the team is looking for a turnaround in performance that can set the stage for a more competitive future. The next five races will serve as a proving ground for Colapinto, who aims to solidify his place in the lineup and potentially secure a long-term role with the team.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Colapinto as he takes the wheel alongside Gasly, with the possibility of a return for Doohan still on the table after the reassessment ahead of the British Grand Prix in July. The stakes are high for Alpine, and the team is determined to maximize its potential in the upcoming races, striving to make a mark in the highly competitive world of Formula One.
