Jack Doohan F1 drive in doubt as Alpine signs Franco Colapinto
Could Jack Doohan's first year as a Formula One driver be over before it has even begun?
The first storyline for the 2025 Formula One season is here, with Alpine signing Argentinian Franco Colapinto to a yet-to-be revealed "multi-year deal."
It's a direct threat to Jack Doohan's role at the team, with Williams boss James Vowles making the revealing comment that "this agreement with Alpine represents Franco’s best chance of securing a race seat in 2025 or 2026."
It could be the words of a loyal team principal inflating the stock of his main development driver, but Vowles has a reputation of being honest and direct in his public appearances.
Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari upended the stagnant driver market last year, causing ripples for almost every other team on the grid, but amidst the chaos Doohan's new role at Alpine had seemed one of the most secure.
The 21-year-old Australian sat out the 2024 season with the promise of a future drive, and his promotion to a full-time drive alongside Pierre Gasly was the obvious choice. The team could take pride in the first prospect from their junior development program to graduate into a race seat, a mix of youth and experience for the driver lineup.
But Alpine itself is in the midst of an overhaul, with infamous F1 personality Flavio Briatore brought in as an executive adviser and esteemed junior team boss Oliver Oakes brought in as new team principal.
The call to Briatore reportedly came from the very top, with Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo reportedly personally handling the overhaul with ambitions to finally break into the top tier of F1 teams. The plan is developing, with the team announcing in November they would abandon their own engine works and run as a Mercedes customer from 2026.
Briatore flagged to the French press that the signing of Colapinto was a direct threat to the current driver lineup.
Briatore told Le Parisien in late December "the only certain thing is death."
"We start the year with Pierre and Jack, I guarantee it. After that, we'll see during the season."
Colapinto is the first Argentinian to compete in Formula One in 23 years, scoring points in his second appearance last year for Williams.
Argentinian publication Infobae reported that the deal was done directly between Vowles and Briatore, with speculation mounting after the driver cancelled a TV interview in late December.
It was soon clear the deal was done. "There are a few of us who already know everything... F1 2025," Colapinto's father briefly posted on Instagram in early January before deleting it.
Briatore took to social media soon after from the seat of his private jet.
"We have reached an agreement with Williams, now we are taking off. We are in Oxford, near the Alpine factory, and I am going to Nice."
"The good news is that Franco is an Alpine driver. Ciao, ragazzi.... Viva Argentina!"
The press releases followed soon after.
"Over nine memorable races with Williams he clearly showed he is deserving of a place in Formula 1 and we always said we would support him to get one," said Vowles.
Colapinto joins the Alpine reserve driver roster, for now, alongside the recently announced Ryō Hirakawa and Paul Aron. The announcement quite overshadowed the signing of Hirakawa, a supremely experienced Japanese driver, himself a Le Mans winner, and two-time FIA World Endurance Championship champion.
"I am super excited to have the opportunity to join BWT Alpine Formula One Team," said Colapinto.
"First of all, I want to say thank you to Williams for all their support from the moment I joined the Academy until the last race in Abu Dhabi. They turned my dream of racing in Formula One into reality, and I will always be grateful for that."
"Now, it is time for a new chapter, and to take on this challenge with BWT Alpine Formula One Team is truly an honour. A huge thank you to Luca [de Meo], Flavio [Briatore] and Oliver [Oakes] for believing in me and welcoming me into the team with open arms."
"I cannot wait to get started and see where this journey takes us."
"Also, a massive thank you to all my sponsors and partners who stood by me through the challenges of the 2024 season. Your support made it all possible, and to my incredible fans in Argentina: ‘Muchas gracias!’ Your passion and encouragement mean the world to me."
"Let’s aim for even greater things in 2025 and beyond."
Confirmed his involvement, while the Hirakawa announcement was signed by Oakes, the Colapinto announcement instead carried words from Briatore.
"Clearly, Franco is among the best young talents in motorsport right now," said Briatore.
"It is fair to say his appearance on the Formula One grid last year caught many, me included, by surprise and his performances have been very impressive for a rookie driver."
"We have an eye on our future and his signing means we have a great pool of young drivers to call upon and work with in developing the team for future success.”
Doohan and Colapinto will reportedly appear together at the F1 season launch event at the O2 in London on 18 February.
