Alpine’s Briatore Explains Decision to Bench Jack Doohan for Franco Colapinto

MIAMI, FL — Alpine’s Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore revealed the reasoning behind replacing driver Jack Doohan with reserve driver Franco Colapinto after the Miami Grand Prix. Doohan, a rookie, made his Formula 1 debut for Alpine at the 2024 finale in Abu Dhabi and was expected to race full-time in 2025.

However, just six races into the season, Alpine opted to change their lineup due to Doohan’s inconsistent performance. Briatore stated in an interview with F1 TV’s Lawrence Barretto, “I believe at one point with Jack it was very difficult, and it was difficult for Jack as well. I believe at one point Jack needed a break from thinking about it.”

The decision to promote Colapinto came after assessing the season’s early races. Briatore mentioned, “We had a possibility to have Franco in the team and we tried to swap, to see if it’s better for the team, if it’s better from Franco. The team has to find the best way possible to be competitive.”

When asked if Colapinto would drive for just five races, Briatore responded, “No, Franco is in the car. The team decides if it’s race-by-race or the whole season.” He emphasized that Colapinto’s continued presence in the car depends solely on his performance: “We need two cars together because it’s very tight with every team. We need two cars all the time. Let’s see.”

Briatore expressed sympathy for Doohan, stating, “I feel sorry as well for Jack, he put everything together to be an F1 driver.” He also addressed the recent resignation of Alpine team member Oakes, saying, “The team is solid. I feel sorry about what happened with him. We know it’s something not to do with the team, it’s a personal decision. I wish him a fantastic career.”

Colapinto faced challenges in his return to Formula 1, as he crashed out during his first qualifying session at Imola and later received penalties from the stewards for a rule breach. Briatore’s comments highlight the ongoing challenges faced by Alpine as they navigate team dynamics and performance in a competitive season.