Colapinto to Replace Doohan at Alpine for Upcoming Races
The Alpine Formula 1 team has confirmed that Franco Colapinto will take over for Jack Doohan in the driver lineup for the next five races of the 2025 season, beginning with the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola. This decision follows a series of underwhelming performances from Doohan, who, despite demonstrating one-lap speed, struggled with race consistency throughout the opening six weekends.
Doohan’s latest outing at the Miami Grand Prix saw him qualify ahead of teammate Pierre Gasly but resulted in an early exit due to a collision with Liam Lawson at Turn 1. Although Gasly managed a strong seventh place at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Alpine aims to capitalize on the potential of their car by optimizing their driver lineup in a competitive midfield.
Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore stated, "We have decided to put Franco in the car alongside Pierre for the next five races… We are in a position where we see the need to rotate our line-up." He emphasized the importance of evaluating drivers for the upcoming 2026 season while reaffirming support for Doohan, who will revert to his role as a reserve driver.
Colapinto expressed gratitude for the opportunity, stating, "I will do my best to get up to speed quickly and deliver the best possible results alongside Pierre." The Argentinean driver is being prepped for his return through simulation work and private testing after a promising stint with Williams last season, which included points finishes in Baku and Austin.
This change marks the second in-season driver switch of 2025, following the recent swaps between Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull. As the championship progresses, Alpine seeks to enhance performance and secure valuable points in the tightly contested midfield battle.
