Alpine has confirmed Franco Colapinto will exchange Jack Doohan for at the very least the following 5 Formulation 1 races, ranging from the following spherical on the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
The Argentinean driver was signed as a reserve possibility by Alpine over the winter, with Williams crew principal James Vowles stating he was successfully on mortgage with the expectation that he would race at some stage. Following simply six races of the 2025 season, rookie Doohan has been demoted into the reserve position, with Colapinto partnering Pierre Gasly from Imola onwards earlier than the crew says it should perform a contemporary driver analysis in July.
“Having reviewed the opening races of the season, we’ve got come to the choice to place Franco within the automotive alongside Pierre for the following 5 races,” govt director Flavio Briatore mentioned. “With the sphere being so carefully matched this yr, and with a aggressive automotive, which the crew has drastically improved up to now 12 months, we’re ready the place we see the necessity to rotate our line-up. We additionally know the 2026 season will likely be an vital one for the crew and having a whole and honest evaluation of the drivers this season is the suitable factor to do with the intention to maximize our ambitions subsequent yr.
“We proceed to help Jack on the crew, as he has acted in a really skilled method in his position as a race driver thus far this season. The following 5 races will give us a chance to strive one thing completely different and after this time interval we’ll assess our choices.”
Doohan failed to attain some extent in his seven begins for Alpine — making his debut within the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix final yr — however outqualified Gasly for the primary time final trip in Miami. Gasly has scored factors in a single grand prix and one Dash, with Alpine’s complete of seven factors leaving it ninth within the constructors’ championship.
The five-race spell outlined by the crew ensures Colapinto within the race seat till previous to the British Grand Prix in July, a monitor the place he made his FP1 debut for Williams a yr in the past and the second race in back-to-back weekends additionally together with the Austrian Grand Prix.
“Firstly, I need to thank the crew for giving me the chance to drive competitively for the following 5 races,” Colapinto mentioned. “I’ll work arduous with the crew to arrange for the following race in Imola and the upcoming tripleheader, which can little question be intense and an enormous problem for everybody.
“I’ve stayed sharp, and I’m as prepared as doable with the crew’s race help testing program, in addition to on the simulator at Enstone. I’ll do my finest to stand up to hurry shortly and provides it my all to ship the very best outcomes alongside Pierre.”
Affirmation of the driving force change comes simply at some point after the shock announcement that crew principal Oliver Oakes had resigned with fast impact, with govt advisor Flavio Briatore taking on Oakes’ tasks.
