Alpine boss Oakes quashes Doohan future speculation amid Colapinto Imola comments

Alpine Team Principal Oliver Oakes has addressed rumours that the team will replace Jack Doohan with reserve Franco Colapinto at the next round in Imola, insisting the Australian will be racing at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.

Speculation over Doohan’s future at the team has been a frequent topic at the start of the season, initially fuelled by Alpine signing the highly-rated Colapinto as a reserve driver in January, following his nine-race stint with Williams last year.

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Leading into this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, Horacio Marín, CEO of Argentine energy company YPF, which sponsors Colapinto, claimed – during an off-air moment in a TV interview – that the former Williams super-sub would debut with Alpine at the Emila-Romagna Grand Prix.

Asked about those comments in the team principals' press conference in Miami, Oakes poured cold water on the claims and stated that, as it stands, Doohan will be racing for Alpine in Imola.

“I saw it, like everyone else,” said Oakes. “I think it was a sponsor from Argentina off-camera giving his view on Franco, when he’s going to be in the car.

"I’m sure there’s a lot of people in Argentina who’d like him in the car this Sunday. We’ve been pretty open as a team that that’s just noise.

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"Jack needs to continue doing a good job. But it’s natural that there’s always speculation there."

When asked directly if Doohan would be in the car at Imola, Oakes added: “Yeah, as it is today, Jack is our driver along with Pierre [Gasly]. We’ve been pretty clear on that. We always evaluate, but yeah – today, that is the case.”

Rookie Doohan will start Saturday’s Sprint from a lowly 17th on the grid after a pit lane “mess up” prevented the Australian from completing his final flying lap in SQ1.

The 22-year-old was caught up in frantic pit lane traffic late on in the first segment of the session, including the simultaneous release of his team mate Pierre Gasly, which prevented him from leaving his garage properly and also led to a frustrated message over team radio.

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