Franco Colapinto will replace Jack Doohan at Alpine starting from Imola
The seat change comes after Flavio Briatore took over the reins of the team
Argentine driver Franco Colapinto returns to Formula 1 after being last season's breakout sensation. This decision follows the sudden resignation of his team principal, Oliver Oakes, who stepped down last night with immediate effect. Flavio Briatore will assume his responsibilities starting today. In fact, this seat swap marks the first major move by Briatore, the former Renault boss during Fernando Alonso’s championship-winning era.
Colapinto will drive for Alpine over the next five Grands Prix, after which his future with the team will be reassessed:
“The BWT Alpine Formula One Team announces that Franco Colapinto will be paired with Pierre Gasly starting from the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, with a further evaluation set to take place ahead of the British Grand Prix in July.”
As a result of this decision, Jack Doohan — son of motorcycle racing legend Mick Doohan — will no longer be behind the wheel of the Alpine. His six consecutive non-scoring races, along with crashes in Australia, Japan, and most recently in Miami, appear to have influenced the team’s decision. The Australian did not hide his disappointment: “Obviously, this latest chapter is hard to take, as, naturally, as a professional driver, I want to race.”
A New Opportunity for Colapinto
The Franco-Argentine driver made his Formula 1 debut at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix when he replaced Logan Sargeant at Williams for the remainder of the season. Flavio Briatore signed him in January as a reserve driver, and Colapinto is now grateful for this new chance:
“I will do everything I can to get up to speed quickly and give my all to achieve the best possible results alongside Pierre.”
Colapinto now returns to the pinnacle of motorsport in Italy, hoping to build on the positive impression he left last season during his stint with the British team.
Jack Doohan becomes the first driver to lose his seat in the 2025 season. Previously, Liam Lawson was demoted from Red Bull to Racing Bulls in favor of Yuki Tsunoda, but he remains a full-time Formula 1 driver.