Alpine Set to Replace Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto Amid Rocky Start to Season
Argentine talent Colapinto poised for Alpine seat as pressure mounts on Doohan
In a move that has been quietly brewing behind the scenes since winter, Alpine appear ready to pull the trigger on a mid-season driver swap—replacing Jack Doohan with Argentine racer Franco Colapinto. The switch, which could be confirmed before the upcoming Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, signals a bold shift for the team after just six rounds of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
While no official word has come from Alpine yet, several sources close to the team have indicated the deal is close to being finalised. If confirmed, it would mark the end—at least temporarily—of Doohan’s run in a full-time seat, just as he seemed to be finding his footing.
Cracks Appear Despite Glimmers of Promise
Doohan, the son of motorcycle legend Mick Doohan, has had a turbulent start to his Formula 1 campaign. On paper, it hasn’t been all doom and gloom. Just last weekend in Miami, the 21-year-old outqualified teammate Pierre Gasly for the first time this year, offering a glimpse of the raw speed that Alpine hoped he would bring to the table.
But the race itself was another story.
Doohan’s Sunday came to an abrupt end following a collision with Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson. It was yet another blow in a season that’s seen Doohan deliver flashes of promise—only to be overshadowed by costly errors and high-profile crashes.
His misjudgment in Australia, where he lost control in wet conditions on the first lap, left his car badly damaged and raised early concerns. Two races later at Suzuka, Doohan’s crash on just his second flying lap of practice was even more troubling, especially as it stemmed from a basic mistake: failing to close the DRS overtaking flap before diving into the notoriously fast Turn One.
While raw pace is undeniably part of Doohan’s package, consistency hasn’t followed suit.
Colapinto Brings Speed—and Backing
Enter Franco Colapinto.
The 21-year-old Argentine, who raced nine times for Williams last season in place of the dropped Logan Sargeant, has made enough of an impression to remain firmly in the conversation for a permanent seat. Now, it appears that opportunity will come with Alpine.
Colapinto’s promotion hasn’t happened in a vacuum. His arrival at Alpine over the winter raised eyebrows at the time, given that the team already had two drivers in place. But behind the scenes, the writing may have been on the wall from the moment he signed.
There’s also the financial side of the equation. Colapinto brings significant backing from Latin American sponsors—support that has undoubtedly made him a more appealing option in the eyes of Alpine’s leadership. In an era where budgets remain tight despite the sport’s soaring popularity, commercial factors still carry weight.
A Mixed Bag of a Rookie Season
Colapinto’s time with Williams last season was far from flawless, but it did give the world a glimpse of his potential. He scored points in Baku and Austin—two tough, technical circuits that often separate the great from the merely good. Those performances turned heads and proved that Colapinto could cut it at the highest level.
But his campaign was not without its blemishes. Heavy crashes in both qualifying and the race at the São Paulo Grand Prix raised eyebrows, and another incident in Las Vegas qualifying only added to concerns about his learning curve. Even his breakthrough weekend in Baku came after a crash in practice, underscoring a pattern of risk-versus-reward that Alpine will need to manage carefully.
Still, the highs have outshone the lows just enough for Alpine to make their move now—banking on Colapinto’s potential to stabilise their season and offer a more measured, if still aggressive, approach behind the wheel.
A Tough Pill to Swallow for Doohan
If the switch is confirmed in the coming days, it will undoubtedly be a bitter moment for Doohan. His path to F1 has been a slow build, including a stint as Alpine’s reserve and plenty of track time in testing and practice sessions. There was genuine belief—internally and among fans—that 2025 could be his breakthrough year.
Instead, the story has unfolded in a way that illustrates just how unforgiving the sport can be. With only a few mistakes and a bit of bad luck, a driver can go from promising talent to sidelined prospect in the blink of an eye.
To his credit, Doohan is expected to remain involved with the Alpine setup, albeit in a background role for now. There’s still belief in his long-term potential, but the team seems to have made a call based on short-term needs and immediate results.
What Happens Next?
The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix from 16-18 May is shaping up to be a landmark weekend for Alpine. If Colapinto does indeed slot into the car, it will kick off a new chapter for the team as they attempt to claw their way back into relevance in a tightly contested midfield.
Meanwhile, Williams have left the door ajar for Colapinto’s return somewhere down the line. Team principal James Vowles has made it clear the Argentine remains on their radar, especially given the instability they’ve faced in their own driver lineup.
In truth, Colapinto’s career still feels like it’s in its early chapters. But now, with a full-time Alpine seat seemingly just days away, the stakes are higher than ever.
Final Thoughts: A Risk Worth Taking?
Replacing a driver mid-season is never a simple decision. It can destabilise a team’s rhythm, put strain on garage morale, and heap pressure on the newcomer. But in this case, Alpine clearly feel the reward outweighs the risk.
Colapinto may still have rough edges, but he brings speed, funding, and a sense of upward momentum that Alpine hope can carry them through the second half of the season. For Doohan, the hope will be that this setback is just a detour—not a dead end.
Formula 1 doesn’t wait for anyone. And at Alpine, change is coming—fast.
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