Thibaut Simon, Media365, published on Wednesday 07 May 2025 at 3:21 p.m.
Alpine confirmed this Wednesday the replacement of Jack Doohan by Franco Colapinto for the next five races.
The season has been launched for three months and the attraction is no longer Lewis Hamilton or McLaren or the Poleman, but Alpine. There is not a day without a new shattering in the Franco-British team. This Tuesday, Alpine announced the departure of its field director Oliver Oakes. A resignation that the stable has accepted. At the same time, Flavio Briatore took orders while keeping his position as executive advisor. An earthquake behind the scenes, followed by the ground. Already planned for a few days, the departure of Jack Doohan is acted this Wednesday by the stable. Franco Colapinto takes his place and becomes the teammate of Pierre Gasly. But this change is more complex than that, since the Argentinian could leave the stable in June.
-Five races and after?
Changes continue to shake up hierarchies at all levels. Pierre Gasly therefore sees an arrival in the paddock with the entrance to Franco Colapinto. But the Argentinian is not insured. Indeed, the pilot is engaged for the next five races only, the Grands Prix of Imola, Monaco, Spain, Canada and Austria, on June 29. COLAPINTO does not have much margin to prove himself and to do better than the Australian Jack Doohan – he returns reserve pilot – and his 13th place in six races. Passed by Williams last year, Colapinto had obtained two positions to enter the points before knowing three abandonments.
But the change of pilot is not the only thing to which fans of the Enstone stable must wait. Alpine will change its engines during the season to replace those made in Viry-Châtillon to equip themselves with Mercedes.
How to explain this choice?
Flavio Briatore has confirmed that the evaluation between the two pilots will continue to ensure a long -term winning duo. Proof of instability at Alpine? Maybe. For the new director, it is necessary to run this duo. “In such a tight peloton and with a competitive car that the team has improved considerably in the past twelve months, we are in a position where we understand the need to run our duo. »»
