Jack Doohan’s F1 dream is in jeopardy with Alpine chief Flavio Briatore reportedly considering axing the Australian before his rookie season to bring Williams sensation Franco Colapinto on board.
According to a report from Gazzetta dello Sport, Briatore was previously content with a line-up of Doohan and Pierre Gasly for 2025, but his head has been turned by the availability of Colapinto, who wowed the paddock with his instant impact on the sport.
The young Argentinian scored points in two of his first four Grand Prix starts and finished in the top 12 in each of his first five. Notably, he was almost instantly on the pace of team-mate Alex Albon, which is a feat that previous colleagues Nicholas Latifi and Logan Sargeant both failed to achieve.
This level of performance has attracted interest from a number of teams. Colapinto has been linked with the Sauber seat – which ultimately went to Gabriel Bortoleto, as well as rides with VCARB and now Alpine.
If Briatore is to lure Colapinto away from Williams and into his driver line-up for 2025, it will be a brutal end to Doohan’s F1 dreams. The 21-year-old won six races during his two full seasons in the Formula Two championship and has worked tirelessly as a reserve driver to land a full-time seat.
“I am so happy to secure promotion into a full-time race seat in 2025 with BWT Alpine F1 Team,” Doohan said after signing his contract this summer. “I am very grateful for the trust and belief by the team’s senior management.
“There is so much work ahead to be prepared and ready and I will give my best in the meantime to absorb as much information and knowledge to be ready for the step up.
“It’s exceptionally satisfying to be the first graduate of the Alpine Academy to be in a race seat with the team and I’m extremely thankful to those who supported me along the way to make this a reality. It’s an exciting moment, a proud day for my family, and I look forward to taking it all in and pushing hard behind the scenes.”
For many within the Alpine set-up, it would be a sour note after the team’s best weekend of the season. In Brazil, both Esteban Ocon and Gasly found their way onto the podium, with the bumper points haul boosting them from P9 to P6 in the Constructors’ Championship standings.
