Franco Colapinto will take Jack Doohan’s place as Alpine F1 Team’s driver for the next five races, beginning with the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, in a major mid-season change. This decision comes after Doohan had a string of poor races, failing to score points in the first six races of the 2025 season and retiring twice.
This shift comes as Alpine is going through a leadership upheaval, with Flavio Briatore taking over as team principal after Oliver Oakes resigned. Briatore has played a key role in this driver transition, stressing the importance of assessing various setups to improve team performance. Briatore rejoined Formula 1 in 2024 as an executive advisor.
Jack Doohan’s 2025 season has not started off as he had hoped. His performances have not been the best as he finished 13th in China, 15th in Japan, 14th in Bahrain, 17th in Saudi Arabia, and DNF in Miami.
However, they also don’t support benching him at this early stage of his growth. Doohan is only 22 years old and just starting his Formula One career. He has had to deal with a team in disarray, a car that is having trouble, and dubious strategy decisions. He hasn’t been given patience, though.
It frequently takes five seasons, not five races, for young drivers to adjust to the harsh demands of the sport. Of all teams, Alpine ought to be aware of this. They’ve spent years on Doohan’s growth, so why cut him off in the middle of the season as if expecting miracles from a midfield car barely scraping into Q2.
The 21-year-old Argentine driver Colapinto, who was Alpine’s reserve driver, made an impression during a brief appearance in 2024, earning five points in nine races. He thanked Pierre Gasly for the chance and said he will be racing beside him in the future.
Despite his disappointment, Doohan has professionally accepted the decision and will remain as Alpine’s backup driver. Following the British Grand Prix in July, the team intends to review its driver roster.
Given that Alpine is currently ranked ninth in the 2025 Constructors’ Championship, this calculated decision demonstrates the team’s dedication to raising its position. The team wants to take use of Colapinto’s capabilities to earn important points in the forthcoming races in North America and Europe.
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featured image credit: Lukas Raich
