Franco Colapinto Replaces Doohan at Alpine.

Following a string of early-season mistakes, Jack Doohan has been removed from his race seat and replaced by Franco Colapinto! a move that had been anticipated since the end of 2024.

The confirmation came on Wednesday, May 7th: the Argentine driver will take over the seat for a fixed period of five races. Alpine will evaluate his performance before the British Grand Prix to decide whether Colapinto will stay on, whether Doohan will return, or if the team will opt for a third option.

“After reviewing the first races of the season, we have decided to place Franco in the car alongside Pierre for the next five Grands Prix,” said team principal Flavio Briatore. “With the field being so close this year, and with a competitive car that the team has dramatically improved over the last 12 months, we’re in a position where we see the need to rotate our lineup,” Briatore explained.

Doohan, a product of Alpine’s junior academy, made his F1 debut at last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, replacing Esteban Ocon. However, the 22-year-old Australian’s stint in Formula 1 has lasted only seven races. His best finish was 13th in China. He was also involved in several incidents, including a crash during FP2 at the Japanese Grand Prix, when he attempted to take Turn 1 at Suzuka with the DRS open.

“I’m incredibly proud to have achieved my dream of becoming a professional Formula 1 driver and will always be grateful to the team for their support. This latest chapter is difficult for me because, as a driver, I want to race. That said, I appreciate the team’s trust and commitment. We have long-term goals to reach, and I will continue giving my all in every possible way to help achieve them. For now, I’ll stay focused, keep working hard, and follow the next five races closely while continuing to chase my goals,” said Doohan.

“First of all, I want to thank the team for giving me the opportunity to race competitively over the next five Grands Prix. I’ll be working hard to prepare for Imola and the upcoming triple-header, which will no doubt be intense and a big challenge for everyone,” said Colapinto. “I’m as prepared as I can be thanks to the team’s testing program and simulator work at Enstone. I’ll do my best to get up to speed quickly and give everything I’ve got to deliver the best possible results alongside Pierre,” he added.

It’s also worth noting that Franco has already raced in Formula 1, he stepped in for Logan Sargeant at Williams during the 2024 Italian Grand Prix. Best of luck to the Argentine, and let’s follow the next chapters of this unfolding story.