In a major shake-up midway through the 2025 Formula 1 season, Alpine has opted to replace Jack Doohan with reserve driver Franco Colapinto for the next five races. The move comes after Doohan's continued struggles to score points, most recently highlighted by an early exit at the Miami Grand Prix.
Alpine Swaps Drivers After Six Races
Jack Doohan’s promotion to a full-time seat with Alpine was a significant career milestone for the 22-year-old Australian. However, just six rounds into the campaign, the team has decided to make a change. Colapinto, who has been serving as Alpine’s reserve driver, will step in starting with the next grand prix weekend.
The decision follows another difficult outing in Miami, where Doohan impressed with his one-lap pace but was ultimately forced out of the race after a Turn 1 incident. With the field tightly packed and the team believing it has a more competitive car this year, Alpine has opted to experiment with its driver line-up.
Doohan Returns to Reserve Role, Reflects on Demotion
While stepping aside has been difficult for him, Doohan expressed gratitude for the opportunity to compete in Formula 1, reiterating his commitment to the team’s long-term goals.
"I am very proud to have achieved my lifelong ambition to be a professional Formula 1 driver, and I will forever be grateful to the team for helping me achieve this dream," Doohan stated, as quoted by Alpine. "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. 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. For now, I will keep my head down, keep working hard, watch with interest the next five races and keep chasing my own personal goals."
Doohan will return to his previous role as Alpine's reserve driver and is expected to remain involved with the team through this transition phase. A reassessment of the driver line-up is scheduled after the Austrian Grand Prix in June.
Flavio Briatore Takes Over Team Operations as Oakes Resigns
Alpine’s internal changes aren’t limited to the driver line-up. Team principal Oliver Oakes has stepped down, with executive advisor Flavio Briatore now taking full control of team operations—marking a significant shift in leadership since their joint stewardship began last summer.
"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," Briatore confirmed. "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 are in a position where we see the need to rotate our line-up."
He further emphasized the importance of evaluating all driver options ahead of the crucial 2026 campaign.
"We also know the 2026 season will be an important one for the team and having a complete and fair assessment of the drivers this season is the right thing to do in order to maximise our ambitions next year. We continue to support Jack at the team, as he has acted in a very professional manner in his role as a race driver so far this season. The next five races will give us an opportunity to try something different and after this time period we will assess our options."
With Franco Colapinto now stepping up for his first extended stint in Formula 1, and Alpine looking to solidify its long-term direction, all eyes will be on how the team performs in the coming rounds—both on the track and within the garage.