Colapinto Gets the Call: Alpine Shakes Up Line-Up with Five-Race Driver Swap In a dramatic turn of events, Alpine has confirmed that Franco Colapinto will take over Jack Doohan’s seat for the next five Formula 1 Grands Prix, starting with the Emilia-Romagna GP. The move follows the sudden resignation of Team Principal Oliver Oakes, with Flavio Briatore stepping in as Executive Advisor to guide the team through a pivotal transition period. A Strategic Shake-Up The decision to bench Doohan comes as part of Alpine’s new strategy to “ rotate ” one of its race seats alongside Pierre Gasly. With the 2026 season looming and the field more competitive than ever, Alpine believes a mid-season evaluation of its drivers is necessary to ensure it has the best possible line-up moving forward. “Having reviewed the opening races of the season, we have come to the decision to put Franco in the car alongside Pierre for the next five races,” said Briatore. “The next five races will give us an opportunity to try something different.” Colapinto’s Return to the Grid Colapinto’s F1 experience may be limited, but he made waves last season with Williams. After being called up to replace Logan Sargeant midway through 2024, he scored points in Baku and Austin, although his campaign also included crashes in São Paulo and Las Vegas. Still, his raw speed and composure under pressure caught the attention of several teams, including Alpine. Now signed as one of their reserve drivers, Colapinto is set for a high-stakes return. “I want to thank the team for giving me this opportunity,” he said. “I’ve stayed sharp through the simulator and testing programs and will give it my all to deliver strong results.” Doohan’s Difficult Start Jack Doohan’s debut full season hasn’t gone as planned. The 22-year-old Australian was promoted early, replacing Esteban Ocon at the 2024 Abu Dhabi finale, and entered 2025 with high expectations. But the results haven’t followed. Incidents in Suzuka and a Lap 1 crash with Liam Lawson in Miami have only added to the pressure. Despite his struggles, Doohan remains positive and committed. “Obviously, this chapter is a tough one to take, but I will keep my head down, keep working hard, and continue supporting the team.” All Eyes on Imola With a competitive car and a tight midfield, Alpine sees this as a critical moment to test its talent pool. The next five races, spanning iconic circuits and high-pressure weekends, could define not just the futures of Colapinto and Doohan, but the direction of Alpine itself heading into 2026. Whether this rotation strategy proves a masterstroke or a misstep remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: all eyes will be on Colapinto as the lights go out at Imola .
