Alpine chief Briatore opens up on decision to drop Doohan for Colapinto as he clarifies ‘five races’ stance

Alpine’s Executive Advisor, Flavio Briatore, has shared some more background on the decision to bench Jack Doohan following the Miami Grand Prix and promote reserve driver Franco Colapinto in his place.

Doohan made his Formula 1 debut with Alpine at the 2024 finale in Abu Dhabi and started what was meant to be a full-time stint in 2025, but the team opted to change their line-up just six races into the campaign.

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After an up-and-down first quarter of the season, rookie Doohan was swapped out in favour of recently-signed reserve Colapinto, who made his mark in the sport over the second half of last season as a Williams stand-in.

Speaking in an interview with F1 TV’s Lawrence Barretto, Briatore explained: “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.

“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.”

In Alpine’s press release confirming the decision, Briatore was quoted as saying that “having reviewed the opening races of the season, we have come to the decision to put Franco in the car alongside Pierre [Gasly] for the next five races”.

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However, pressed on whether it will be just five races in the F1 TV conversation, Briatore said: “No, Franco is in the car. The team decide if it’s race-by-race or the whole season.”

And asked if that outcome depends on Colapinto simply doing a good enough job, he commented: “The performance. It’s only the 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 added: “I feel sorry as well for Jack, he put everything together to be an F1 driver.”

Briatore also took a moment to comment on Oliver Oakes’ departure as team boss following the Miami weekend, stressing that there were no issues between the pair.

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Quizzed on the impact Oakes’ resignation has had on Alpine, he stated: “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 crashed out of his first Qualifying session back in F1 at Imola on Saturday, leaving Alpine’s mechanics with work to do overnight, and was later given a one-place grid penalty by the stewards for a rule breach.