The Alpine team has officially announced that Colapinto will replace the current regular driver, Doohan, starting from the next race in Imola. He will complete the following five races to enable the team to conduct practical evaluations.
The 22-year-old Colapinto was originally a Williams junior driver and was temporarily promoted to F1 by Williams last September, replacing the underperforming Logan Sargeant for the final nine races of the season.
During this period, Colapinto showcased impressive potential and speed, scoring points in both the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and the United States Grand Prix at COTA. Despite serious crashes in Brazil and Las Vegas, his displayed speed attracted interest from multiple teams.
Colapinto’s outstanding performance immediately caught the eye of Alpine’s executive advisor Flavio Briatore, who successfully borrowed the Argentine driver from Williams and appointed him as a reserve driver. Meanwhile, Colapinto’s rise also garnered significant attention from South American companies, leading to substantial sponsorship offers.
The current situation has put Jack Doohan under significant scrutiny since he entered top-level motorsport. As a key member of the team’s development program for several years, he made his initial F1 appearance last season during an early session in Abu Dhabi, substituting for a departing driver. His performance at the start of this season has been challenging. In the first six races, he is still among a few drivers who haven’t scored any championship points, showing that adapting to Grand Prix racing is a steep learning curve.
Complicating his early season further, Doohan has been involved in three separate on-track incidents within these first six races. These incidents included hitting barriers during the Australian event and colliding with fellow racer Liam Lawson at the recent Miami race weekend. Additionally, he experienced a significant high-speed off-track incident during the Japanese Grand Prix due to a technical error related to aerodynamic aids before entering a corner. These events have undoubtedly added pressure and increased focus on his ongoing development and adaptation within Formula 1’s highly competitive environment.
Adding another layer of complexity to the team’s situation is a recent significant leadership change. Former team principal Oliver Oakes announced his immediate departure just one day ago, marking the third leadership transition within two years. This rapid turnover in senior management has thrown the team into another period of organizational instability and uncertainty. While speculation is inevitable, it’s currently unclear if this leadership change is directly related to or influenced by considerations about future driver arrangements or performances. Briatore will temporarily assume the role of principal as the team searches for a permanent successor while simultaneously focusing on improving on-track performance and stability.
In a recent announcement, the Alpine team detailed their current strategic approach to evaluating driver talent. The team confirmed that they are undertaking a focused assessment over the course of five upcoming race weekends. This period is specifically designed to observe the on-track performance and integration of Franco Colapinto within their operational environment. The objective of this evaluation phase is to gather comprehensive data and insights to inform crucial decisions regarding the team’s driver lineup for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season. Further determinations are expected to be finalized and communicated in advance of the British Grand Prix. The official statement from the team clarified this move, stating: “As an integral part of our ongoing and thorough evaluation process concerning our driver roster for the forthcoming 2025 FIA F1 World Championship, we have elected to implement a rotation within one of our established race seats for the next five events.”
Commenting on this temporary change, Jack Doohan shared his perspective. He expressed immense pride in reaching the pinnacle of motorsport, remarking, “I am incredibly proud to have achieved my lifelong dream of becoming an F1 driver and profoundly grateful for the unwavering support from the team in helping me realize this ambition.” Addressing the immediate situation, Doohan acknowledged the professional challenges it presents, stating, ” candidly, it is challenging for me to fully embrace the current turn of events. As a professional competitor, my fundamental desire is inherently to be actively participating and competing on the track.” His comments reflect the demanding and highly competitive nature of securing and maintaining a position in Formula 1, where opportunities are intensely sought after and every moment in the car is invaluable for a driver’s career progression and aspirations.