Alpine’s Franco Colapinto says all of it about Jack Doohan’s ominous F1 possibilities
Alpine announced that former Williams driver Franco Colapinto has joined the team as a reserve driver in a move that casts concerns over Jack Doohan’s F1 chances
Alpine announced that Franco Colapinto will join the team as a reserve and test driver in a move that fans fear looks ominous for Jack Doohan.
The former Williams F1 driver signed a multi-year deal to join the Enstone team after catching the eye during the second half of the 2024 season. Colapinto jumped behind the wheel for the last nine races of the season after American Logan Sargeant was dropped.
Williams had no room in their driver line-up to accommodate the 21-year-old, with former Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz partnering Alex Albon for 2025. However, Alpine also don’t have an open seat after Jack Doohan was named to partner Pierre Gasly with Esteban Ocon joining Haas.
The decision has subsequently left fans wondering whether certain promises or opportunities have been made to Colapinto regarding getting back into F1 full-time. Having been an exciting addition to the grid, the Argentine attracted plenty of interest in his future with Red Bull and sister team VCARB heavily rumoured to be interested in signing him.
Doohan, 21, is set to enter his rookie season after getting a taste of F1 at the finale 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, qualifying last and finishing 15th in his debut. While the Aussie has shown plenty of promise in the junior divisions and finished 3rd place in the 2023 F2 season, it appears he may be under pressure to deliver immediately with Colapinto breathing down his neck.
Asked whether Doohan was certain to commence the 2025 campaign before the Colapinto news, Alpine Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore told Le Parisien: “The only thing we can be sure of is death! We’ll start the year with Pierre and Jack, I can guarantee that.”
However, Briatore failed to confirm that Doohan would be given the full year in the A525, suggesting that a mid-season change may occur. “After that, we’ll see as the season progresses,” he continued.
“I have to get the team in the right condition to get results and the driver is the one who has to conclude the work of nearly 1,000 people behind him. Everyone works for just two people. If there’s a driver who isn’t making progress, who isn’t bringing me results, I change him. You can’t be emotional in F1.”
The signing of Colapinto has left fans concerned that Doohan might not be given a solid platform to stage his potential. “Don’t think it’ll ultimately be long before Colapinto is promoted to the race seat in 2025. Bad news if you’re Jack Doohan,” one fan wrote on X.
A second added: “The guy has never driven in F1 and they’re already putting pressure on him”. With a third echoing: “Jack Doohan is literally a dead man walking and he has barely found his feet at Alpine.”
“I think it would be really funny if Jack Doohan actually turns out really good and they’re stuck for what to do with Colapinto” another fan quipped. “Colapinto at Alpine = F1 camera showing him in the pits with every minor mistake by Doohan,” a fifth joked.
It’s not long until the talking stops with pre-season testing taking place in Bahrain on February 26-28 with the curtain to be raised in Australia on March 16.
