Team Alpine Shuffles Driver Lineup Amidst Change in Team Leadership
In just half a lap through the 2025 Formula 1 season, we've already witnessed multiple surprises, with Alpine making a drastic driver change that left fans scratching their heads—and it's not linked to the usual suspects, Red Bull.
Say goodbye to rookie driver Jack Doohan, who's been demoted to reserve status, and hello to Franco Colapinto, freshly appointed as an Alpine driver for at least the next five races, kicking off at Imola on May 16 through 18 and continuing at Monaco, Spain, Canada, and Austria [1][2][4]. But, will his tenure extend beyond that? Time will tell.
Alpine's decision to cut ties with Doohan isn't exactly shocking—whispers of this move surfaced from the season's start in Australia, echoing louder as his performance faltered, marked by costly crashes including the jaw-dropping collision at Suzuka [1]. Doohan failed to tally a single point across six Grand Prix and two Sprint Races, while his teammate, Pierre Gasly, racked up a impressive 7 [1].
A Flip of the Leadership Scales
What was truly stunning, however, was the leadership upheaval just hours before this major driver decision. On the very same day, Alpine announced the departure of team principal Oliver Oakes, with advisor Flavio Briatore stepping in to fill the void [1].
This move revives Alpine's reputation for leadership instability and leaves jaws on the floor. After all, Briatore has a long and storied history in Formula 1, rising to notoriety during the 2008 "Crashgate" scandal while serving as the team principal of Renault (the team that is now Alpine) [1].
Briatore's lifetime ban from Formula 1 was repealed, allowing him to take on an advisory role for Alpine. But, his return to a team principal position is nothing short of incredible [1].
As speculation swirled that Oakes' resignation was the result of a disagreement or power struggle within the team, Briatore quickly quashed these rumors [1]. "A lot has been said in the past 24 hours incorrectly associating the decision of Oli resigning to an alleged disagreement, or that we shared different views," Briatore said via Formula1.com. "This is completely false and far from the truth. Me and Oli have a very good relationship and had long-term ambitions to drive this team forward together" [1].
Despite the circumstances, this kind of fluctuation isn't exactly a recipe for success for a team. Let's see how Alpine tackles the challenges ahead, starting with their return to action for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in just a week's time.
Franco Colapinto, a 19-year-old racing prodigy born in Pilar, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, embarked on a promising career in karting at the tender age of nine [4][5]. He rose through the ranks in junior formulae, claiming the 2019 F4 Spanish Championship and finishing third in both the Formula Renault Eurocup and the Toyota Racing Series in 2020 [4][5].
Before crossing over to Formula 1, Colapinto gained experience in Formula Regional, FIA Formula 3, and FIA Formula 2 [4][5]. In 2024, he made his Formula 1 debut with Williams, participating in nine races, boasting a top finish of eighth at the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which earned him five points in the championship. Despite his limited experience and a few significant crashes, Colapinto managed to catch Alpine's attention, securing his role as a reserve driver before being promoted to replace Jack Doohan [1][2][4].
The unexpected departure of Oliver Oakes and the subsequent return of Flavio Briatore to a team principal position stirred ripples in the Formula 1 world, rekindling memories of the "Crashgate" scandal. Alpine's new driver, Franco Colapinto, previously a promising talent who finished third in the Formula Renault Eurocup and the Toyota Racing Series in 2020, is now set to make his mark, replacing Jack Doohan, starting from the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix on May 22, 2025.
