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Laurence Edmondson
Alpine confirmed Franco Colapinto will replace Jack Doohan For the next five races, starting from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix of Imola.
Wednesday, the French team announced that he had made the new decision to “rotate” the driver in his second place alongside Pierre Gasly.
The colapinto position will then be re -evaluated before the British Grand Prix in July, leaving the door open for a possible return of Doohan.
“After examining the opening competitions of the season, we made the decision to put Franco in the car together with Pierre for the next five races,” said the Alpine executive consultant Flavio Briatore. “With the field so closely combined this year and with a competitive car, that the team has drastically improved in the last 12 months, we are in a position in which we see the need to rotate our training.
“We also know that the 2026 season will be important for the team and having a complete and fair evaluation of drivers this season is the right thing to do to maximize our ambitions next year.
“We continue to support Jack in the team, since he has played in a very professional way in his role as a race pilot so far this season. The next five races will give us the opportunity to try something different and after this period we will evaluate our options”.
Doohan’s position was in doubt since Alpine signed colapinto for a role of reserve driver in January.
The Argentine climbed to the limelight impressing how Logan SargeantWilliams’ replacement for nine races last year.
Williams lent him to Alpine this year with the expectation that he would have some race experience.
“Firstly, I want to thank the team for giving me the opportunity to drive competitively for the next five races,” said Colapinto. “I will work hard with the team to prepare for the next race in Imola and the imminent triple head, which will undoubtedly be intense and a great challenge for everyone.
“I remained acute and I am as ready as possible with the team support test program, as well as on the Enstone simulator. I will do my best to speed up quickly and give my best to provide the best possible results together with Pierre.”
Doohan has struggled to leave his mark in his five races this year, crashing on numerous occasions and fighting to combine the qualifying performances or results of the teammate Pierre Gasly companion.
“I am very proud to have reached my ambition throughout the life of being a professional driver of Formula 1 and I will forever grateful to the team for helping me to realize this dream,” said Doohan. “Obviously, this last chapter is difficult to take because, as a professional pilot, of course I want to run.
“Having said that, I appreciate the trust and commitment of the team. We have long -term goals as a team to be achieved and I will continue to make my greatest efforts in any way possible to help reach those.
“For now, I will keep my head down, I will continue to work hard, look with interest the next five races and continue to chase my personal goals.”
Tuesday, the team principal confirmed Alpine Oliver Oakes resigned with immediate effectWith Briatore who hired Oakes’ duties.
Oakes had recently said on Friday at the Miami Grand Prix that, at that moment, the plan was to keep Doohan together with Gasly for the next turn of Imola.