Breaking News — Or Was It?
Rumors had been swirling since the start of the season: would Franco Colapinto replace Australia's Jack Doohan in the 2025 season? Now, just six races in, the speculation has turned into confirmation. The young Argentine driver will officially take over Doohan's seat effective immediately, with his debut with Alpine set for the upcoming race in Imola.
But who exactly are these two young drivers and was this the right move by Alpine?
Pressure from the Start
We haven't known either of these two drivers for very long in the world of Formula 1. For Franco Colapinto, this isn’t the first time he's stepped into a race seat mid-season. Last year, the young Argentine made headlines when he replaced Logan Sargeant at Williams halfway through the season. Colapinto impressed right away, delivering strong performances that caught the attention of several teams across the paddock.
However, most teams had already finalized their 2025 driver lineups by the time Colapinto became available, leaving him without a full-time seat. Alpine, who had just promoted their own academy talent Jack Doohan, also had no space, though their interest in Colapinto remained. They offered him a spot as the team’s official reserve driver.
Doohan, meanwhile, was reportedly signed under a contract that gave him just six races to prove himself. With the season starting in his home country of Australia, expectations were high and Colapinto’s presence in the background only added to the quiet pressure surrounding the young Australian’s performance.
But Colapinto hasn’t exactly been handed a relaxed deal either. Just like Doohan, he’s facing a limited window to prove himself, reportedly around five races to convince Alpine he deserves the seat long-term.
Here’s what the 21-year-old had to say about the opportunity:
“First of all, I want to thank the team for giving me the chance to race over the next five rounds,” Colapinto said. “I’ll be working hard with the team as we prepare for the upcoming race in Imola and the triple-header that follows. It’s going to be intense and a big challenge for everyone involved. I’ve stayed sharp and as prepared as possible thanks to the team’s testing programme and the work I’ve done in the simulator at Enstone. I’ll do my best to adapt quickly and give it everything I’ve got to help deliver the best possible result together with Pierre.”
It won’t be an easy task for the young Argentine. We’ve seen plenty of experienced drivers struggle to find their rhythm early in the season. Just look at Lewis Hamilton even a seven-time world champion needed a few races to settle into his new environment at Ferrari. Carlos Sainz also required time to fully understand and adapt to his new car.
More Than Just a Driver Swap
It’s not just Jack Doohan who’s lost his position, former team principal Oliver Oakes has also parted ways with the team. While Doohan will remain involved with Alpine in some capacity, Oakes officially stepped down the week after the Miami Grand Prix.
On Tuesday evening, May 6th, the team announced that Oakes would be leaving his role, with Flavio Briatore set to take over. The very next morning, Wednesday, May 7th the news of Colapinto replacing Doohan was made public. The timing is no coincidence.
From the start of the season, there were whispers of tension between the two leaders. Oakes reportedly wanted to give Doohan a fair chance to prove himself, while Briatore had made no secret of his admiration for Colapinto. The decision to replace both a driver and a team boss in the same week hints at a deeper power shift within Alpine.
Just last week in Miami, Oakes had still publicly backed Doohan’s position in the team. “As things stand today, Jack is our driver, alongside Pierre,” he said. “We’ve always been clear about that. We’re constantly evaluating, but for now, that’s the situation.”
The Right Call or Not?
According to executive advisor and acting team principal Flavio Briatore, the decision to swap drivers is part of a broader plan aimed at long-term development and preparation for the 2026 season. In an official team statement, Briatore explained that, following an internal review of the opening rounds, Alpine decided to place Franco Colapinto alongside Pierre Gasly for the next five races.
With the midfield pack as close as it is this season and the team’s car having shown significant improvement over the past year, Alpine believes a lineup change is necessary to properly assess its future direction.
Briatore emphasized that the team needs a clear and objective view of which driver best aligns with Alpine’s ambitions for the coming years. While Jack Doohan had some promising moments, he didn’t make a lasting impact during the opening phase of the season. “2026 will be a crucial year for us,” Briatore noted. “To prepare properly, we need a full and fair evaluation of our driver options during this season.”
Colapinto vs. Doohan
Although it's tempting to compare the performances of Jack Doohan and Franco Colapinto directly, it’s important to keep context in mind. We've lined up their key stats, but remember: Colapinto competed during the 2024 season in a very different car with Williams, while Doohan raced in 2025 with Alpine.
Both teams are considered midfield contenders, but their cars differ significantly in design, performance, and development path. That means a direct comparison doesn’t always tell the full story, but it can still offer some insight into how each driver handled the opportunities they were given.
| Grand Prix | Race Position |
|---|---|
| Italy 2024 | P12 |
| Azerbaijan 2024 | P8 |
| Singapore 2024 | P11 |
| United States 2024 | P10 |
| Mexico 2024 | P12 |
| Brazil 2024 | DNF |
| Las Vegas 2024 | P14 |
| Qatar 2024 | DNF |
| Abu Dhabi 2024 | DNF |
| Grand Prix | Race Position |
|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi 2024 | P15 |
| Australia 2025 | DNF |
| China 2025 | P15 |
| Japan 2025 | P15 |
| Bahrain 2025 | P14 |
| Saudi Arabia 2025 | p14 |
| Miami 2025 | p20 |
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