Only two races into the 2025 season, Alpine is getting ready to make a change to their driver lineup after yet another poor start. The Enstone team has apparently decided to replace rookie driver Jack Doohan, who made his debut in Abu Dhabi last season before taking Esteban Ocon’s seat, after being dissatisfied with his early performances. Alpine wants to make the change in time for the European leg of the Formula One calendar, which starts on May 18 with the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, and Doohan is set to make way for reserve driver Franco Colapinto. According to ESPN, sources stated that it is “likely” Colapinto will take over the seat by the time the race in Italy takes place.
In his first two races of the season, Doohan, the son of veteran MotoGP rider Mick Doohan, has found it difficult to compete with the cars around him. After he was deemed to have pushed another driver off the circuit during a battle for position with Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto, he finished 13th in the Chinese Grand Prix and wrecked on the opening lap of his home race in Australia. As a result of his acts, he received four penalty points.
The bosses of Alpine, the only team in the ten that have not yet scored a point, have decided to use the axe on Doohan because the 22-year-old has fallen far short of matching his teammate Pierre Gasly in the same equipment.
Colapinto’s decision to draft him in for Logan Sargeant for the last third of the 2024 season effectively ended one driver’s Formula One career. Even though the Williams vehicle lacked speed, the 21-year-old made a big impact by finishing eighth in his second race at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, earning four points.
At the United States Grand Prix in Austin, he scored another point. Although his debut was somewhat marred by incidents and accidents, he had persuaded Williams manager James Vowles of his potential.
After losing out on Carlos Sainz, Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore acted swiftly to sign the Argentine to a “multi-year agreement” with Williams as their backup driver, though it was always thought that he could replace Doohan if he wasn’t playing.
Reports have linked Colapinto with a shock move to Red Bull to take Liam Lawson’s seat, but Alpine are not in a position to let him leave.
It would also take a substantial amout of money to convince them to let him join a rival team when they are struggling themselves, having paid a reported fee of £16m to secure his services.
