Alpine’s decision to replace rookie Jack Doohan with reserve driver Franco Colapinto after just six races in the 2025 Formula 1 season, announced on May 7, 2025, was driven by a combination of performance issues, strategic planning, and commercial incentives. Doohan, a 22-year-old Australian and Alpine Academy graduate, struggled to adapt to F1’s competitive midfield, failing to score points with a best finish of 13th in China. His season was marred by costly mistakes, including a first-lap crash in Australia, a heavy practice shunt in Japan due to a DRS error, and a race-ending collision with Liam Lawson in Miami. These incidents, coupled with an average finishing position of 16.3, contrasted sharply with teammate Pierre Gasly’s seven points, exposing Doohan’s inexperience at a time when Alpine’s improved car demanded consistency to climb the constructors’ standings. Meanwhile, Colapinto, a 21-year-old Argentine who scored points during a 2024 stint with Williams, offered raw speed and significant sponsorship backing from Latin American firms like Mercado Libre and YPF, which promised financial benefits for the cash-strapped team. Executive advisor Flavio Briatore, known for his ruthless decision-making, saw Colapinto as a marketable talent with potential to outperform Doohan, while also aligning with Alpine’s goal of evaluating drivers for the 2026 regulation changes and switch to Mercedes engines. Briatore’s lack of full support for Doohan, reminiscent of past driver tensions under his leadership, further sealed the Australian’s fate, despite his occasional flashes of pace, such as outqualifying Gasly in Miami.
The mechanics of Doohan’s replacement unfolded swiftly amid internal turmoil at Alpine, highlighted by the resignation of team principal Oliver Oakes on May 6, 2025, just hours before Colapinto’s promotion was confirmed. The Miami Grand Prix proved pivotal, with Doohan’s first-lap crash serving as the final straw; he was informed of the team’s decision before leaving the circuit. Oakes, who had supported Doohan and shared ties through his Hitech GP operation, clashed with Briatore’s vision, leading to his abrupt exit after only 10 months. Briatore assumed dual roles as executive advisor and team principal, fast-tracking Colapinto’s integration through simulator work and private testing, including a session in an older Alpine car at Monza. Colapinto’s five-race stint, covering Imola, Monaco, Barcelona, Canada, and Austria, was framed as a “rotation” to assess his potential alongside Gasly, with a review planned before the British Grand Prix. Doohan was demoted to reserve driver, leaving his F1 future uncertain, though Alpine’s retention of him suggests a slim chance of a return. The move, while calculated to boost performance and finances, reflects Alpine’s broader instability, marked by leadership turnover, the closure of Renault’s engine program, and a ninth-place standing with just seven points. As Colapinto prepares for Imola, Alpine’s gamble risks further alienating talent, echoing past missteps like losing Oscar Piastri, while the team hopes this shake-up will pave the way for a stronger 2026.
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