Logical continuation! After the surprise announcement, last night, of the resignation with the immediate effect of Oliver Oakes of Alpine Management, the “French” team confirmed that Franco Colapinto will replace Jack Doohan for the next five Grands Prix, from Imola, the team having decided to “run” the baquet of race alongside Pierre Gasly.
The coincidence of the announcement with the resignation of Oliver Oakes is undoubtedly not accidental. Flavio Briatore, executive advisor, takes up the functions previously exercised by the British and regains his status as a team manager in Enstone, where he had already officiated in the time of Benetton and then Renault. And Colapinto is clearly his “foal”, in any case a pilot recruited under his auspices, which was not the case of Doohan, a product of the Alpine sector.
Doohan, suspended from the start
Jack Doohan had made his debut earlier than expected in the 2024 season in Abu Dhabi, after Esteban Ocon’s early departure. For many, this precipitous beginning, a way to put your foot to the stirrup more quickly and to make experience of a rookie garner, was also a way, on the side of Briatore, to quickly gauge the level of Doohan, which many supposed insufficient, in order to anticipate the permutation. Jack Doohan was on the hot seat before even starting in F1 (not to mention social networks, especially Latinos, where he took expensive) and the recruitment of Co -Puto as a reservist has only accentuated rumors and also the pressure around the young Australian, who had been since the start of the season on an ejectable seat.
Doohan had a hard time getting to the level of his teammate Gasly. Despite some good phases of racing rhythm, he has mainly known many incidents on the track, with a premature abandonment in Melbourne, a big crash in Suzuka which was attributable to him and another collision in the first round in Miami with Liam Lawson, although his responsibility is limited in the incident.
Gleapent: a spelled potential … et marketing
Franco Colapinto, meanwhile, finds the grid after noticed beginnings in the second half of 2024 to replace Logan Sargeant. He scored points for Williams in Azerbaijan and Austin. However, he also committed major accidents in São Paulo and Las Vegas, revealing a certain inconstancy and a lack of reliability on the track. Nevertheless, the Argentinian has undeniable speed and potential.
We must not forget either that a certain “hype” has seized him in Latin America, where he is a little like resemblance to Ayrton Senna. Its popularity in Argentina is already enormous. Latin America is a large market for F1 and manufacturers, as evidenced by the popular successes of the Grand Prix of Mexico and Brazil.
Colapinto can also rely on the support of a large sponsor, Yacimientos Petrolíferos Tax, which is the largest company in Argentina, employing directly or indirectly more than 46,000 people. It was also the group’s CEO, Horacio Marin, who sold the wick of the replacement of Doohan before the Miami Grand Prix, during an offspring with the media. We imagine that the promotion of COLAPINTO should also be financially interesting for the stable. From there that a great price of Argentina is already in the boxes, there is only one step …
Co -Pinto must also make its proofs
Colapinto had aroused many lusts following his beginnings with a fanfare last year, Red Bull having even been interested in some time, before the repeated crashes of the Argentinian made the “hype” fall. Nevertheless, Alpine ended up putting the grapple on it. Briatore has had a fine nose several times in the past. We know how he pissed Schumacher to Jordan after Spa 91 to put him in a Benetton. The Italian redid ten years later by propeling Alonso at the top of the F1. ColariTo is the new nugget, it is too early to say.
-Moreover, this promotion remains limited and subject to evaluation. COLAPINTO will run for the moment on the next five rounds. The Argentinian must prove himself, and will not have an entire season to do so. Before the Grand Prix de Silverstone, an assessment will make it possible to decide on its extension or not. It’s always better than Liam Lawson, who only did two races in the Red Bull)
“As part of a continuous evaluation of its alignment of pilots, the team made the decision to run one of its racing tubs for the next five rounds of the Formula 1 FIA 2025 World Championship”said a press release from Alpine.
“Bwt Alpine Formula One Team therefore announces that Franco Colapinto will be associated with Pierre Gasly from the Grand Prix of Émilie-Romagne, in anticipation of a new assessment before the Grand Prix of Great Britain in July.
“Jack Doohan remains an essential element of the team and will be the first choice reserve pilot for this period. »»
Briatore at the maneuver: the return of the “El Plan”!
Flavio Briatore said that the team had to “run” their alignment to have a “complete and fair” assessment of its pilots before 2026. The Italian sees great and gave himself the ambition to put Alpine in the running for the title within three years. “After examining the first races of the season, we made the decision to put Franco in the car alongside Pierre for the next five races.
With a very tight tray this year and a competitive car, which the team has improved considerably in the past 12 months, we are in a position where we understand the need to run our crew. We also know that the 2026 season will be important for the team and that a complete and just pilot assessment this season is the best solution to maximize our ambitions next year.
We continue to support Jack within the team, because he has shown great professionalism in his role as racing pilot so far this season. The next five races will give us the opportunity to try something different and, after this period, we will assess our options. »» We knew Flavio less polite)
