Alpine F1 Team has confirmed that Franco Colapinto will take over Jack Doohan’s race seat for the next five Grand Prix weekends, starting with the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. The decision marks a significant shift for the team just six races into the 2025 season, as it looks to shake up its line-up alongside Pierre Gasly.
The move comes amid growing pressure on Doohan, who has endured a difficult debut season. After stepping up to a full-time drive following a 2024 reserve stint, the 22-year-old has struggled to deliver results. His most recent outing in Miami ended prematurely after a Lap 1 collision with Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls, further compounding his woes.
Colapinto Gets His Big Break at Alpine
The man taking over Doohan's seat is Argentinian driver Franco Colapinto, who had already made waves in 2024 by delivering an impressive nine-race stint with Williams. Since joining Alpine as a reserve, the 21-year-old has been waiting in the wings — and now gets a five-race window to prove his potential.
Alpine Explains Rotation Plan
The team’s statement mentioned a strategic desire to “rotate” the seat beside Piere Gasly, as Alpine seeks to maximize its options ahead of the 2026 F1 regulations overhaul.
“Having reviewed the opening races of the season, we have come to the decision to put Franco in the car alongside Pierre for the next five races,” said Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s Executive Advisor who now assumes full control following team principal Oliver Oakes' sudden resignation this week.
“With the field being so closely matched this year and the car significantly improved over the last 12 months, we felt it was the right time to evaluate all our options. This change gives us an opportunity to assess Franco’s capabilities in real-time race conditions.”
Oakes Steps Down; Briatore Takes Charge
The timing of the driver change aligns with a leadership reshuffle at Alpine, as team principal Oliver Oakes stepped down from his role with immediate effect. Briatore, who rejoined the team last summer in an advisory capacity, will now oversee team operations during this transitional phase.
Doohan Responds to Demotion
In a statement shared by the team, Doohan addressed the situation with professionalism, expressing disappointment but reiterating his commitment to Alpine.
“Obviously, this latest chapter is a tough one for me to take because, as a professional driver, naturally I want to be racing,” Doohan said.
“That said, I appreciate the team’s trust and commitment. We have long-term goals as a team to achieve, and I will continue to give my maximum efforts in any way I can to help achieve those.”
Doohan added that he plans to keep a low profile over the next few rounds while continuing to support the team in his reserve capacity.
Looking Ahead
Colapinto will now have the opportunity to prove himself starting at Imola, with races in Monaco, Canada, Spain, and Austria to follow. Alpine plans to reassess its driver line-up after the Austrian Grand Prix in June before making any long-term decisions.