Racing magnate Flavio Briatore returns with a splash as Alpine cuts ties with Doohan, replacing him with Colapinto following a six-race stint.
Franco Colapinto Takes Over from Jack Doohan in Alpine F1 Lineup
Get ready for a shakeup in the Alpine F1 team as Argentine racer, Franco Colapinto, takes over from fellow youngster, Jack Doohan, for the upcoming five races.
Rookie Doohan's future has been in question since Colapinto signed with Alpine as a reserve driver in January. Following a rocky start to the season, Doohan—the son of motorcycling legend Mick Doohan—has been demoted to the reserve driver role.
Team official Flavio Briatore explained the decision, stating, "We believe that with the field being so closely matched this year, and a competitive car, we are in a position where we see the need to rotate our line-up." The team aims to take a comprehensive look at their drivers to ensure they are best positioned for success in the future.
While Doohan has shown competitive qualifying pace, he's had his fair share of mishaps on the track. He crashed out twice during his first six appearances, most notably at the Australian and Japanese Grands Prix, and failed to score a championship point in six races.
Colapinto, who impressed the team with his speed while racing for Williams last season, is eager to prove himself. "I will work hard to prepare for the next race in Imola and the upcoming triple-header," he said. "I have stayed sharp and will do my best to get up to speed and deliver the best possible results alongside Pierre."
Despite the change, the team remains supportive of Doohan, who has acted professionally throughout the season. "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," Doohan added.
The team will reassess their options after the five-race period, with a potential return for Doohan depending on performance evaluations. This move reflects Alpine's intention to thoroughly evaluate their options as they prepare for the next phase of F1's regulatory cycle.
Sources: PA, Formula1.com, Motorsport.com
Enrichment Datasynopsis:
Reason for Driver Rotation:
- Alpine is rotating drivers as part of a comprehensive assessment of their line-up, taking into account the closely contested midfield and upcoming regulatory changes in 2026.
Key Points:
- Jack Doohan's On-track incidents and failure to score points have made him a change candidate.
- Franco Colapinto, the new driver, will have a five-race opportunity to prove his abilities, starting with the European triple-header (Imola, Monaco, Barcelona) and the Canadian and Austrian Grands Prix.
- Alpine continues to support Doohan and may consider reinstating him based on future evaluations.
- Franco Colapinto takes over from Jack Doohan in the Alpine F1 lineup as part of a driver rotation designed for a comprehensive evaluation following the closely contested midfield, and with the upcoming regulatory changes in 2026.
- Jack Doohan, who has faced on-track incidents and failed to score points despite showing competitive qualifying pace, has been demoted to the reserve driver role.
- In 2026, Alpine plans to reevaluate their options, considering a potential return for Jack Doohan if he demonstrates improvement during the performance evaluations.
