Franco Colapinto is set to make his full-time Formula 1 return with Alpine at the 2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, as part of a bold driver rotation strategy by the French team. The Argentine replaces Jack Doohan for the next five rounds, with the team seeking fresh insight ahead of a critical period in its development path.
Alpine confirmed on Tuesday that Colapinto, previously one of the team’s Test and Reserve Drivers, will race alongside Pierre Gasly from Imola through to the Austrian Grand Prix in late June. Doohan, meanwhile, will step back into the role of first-choice Reserve Driver, but remains part of the team setup.
The decision follows a run of six races in which Doohan demonstrated raw speed, including a strong qualifying performance in Miami where he outpaced Gasly, but failed to convert that promise into points. A collision at Turn 1 with Liam Lawson ended his most recent outing prematurely, capping a turbulent start to his first full F1 campaign.
Colapinto gets call-up as Alpine eyes 2026 preparations
Team Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore, now fully overseeing Alpine’s operations following Oliver Oakes’ resignation, explained the team’s thinking: “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.”
“With the field being so closely matched this year, and with a competitive car, which the team has drastically improved in the past 12 months, we are in a position where we see the need to rotate our line-up. We also know the 2026 season will be an important one for the team and having a complete and fair assessment of the drivers this season is the right thing to do,” Briatore added.
Colapinto will carry the number #43 and begin his stint at Imola, continuing through a demanding run that includes Monaco, Spain, Canada, and Austria. The 21-year-old made his F1 debut last year in a short stint with Williams, earning points in Baku and Austin. Though his tenure was also marked by two high-profile crashes, Alpine swooped to sign him over the winter as part of a long-term development strategy.
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Speaking about the opportunity, Colapinto said, “Firstly, I want to thank the team for giving me the opportunity to drive competitively for the next five races. I will work hard with the team to prepare for the next race in Imola and the upcoming triple-header, which will no doubt be intense and a big challenge for everyone.
“I have stayed sharp, and I am as ready as possible with the team’s race support testing programme, as well as on the simulator at Enstone.”
Colapinto is also backed by a strong commercial package, including support from YPF and Mercado Libre. The Argentine oil giant has already been visible on the Alpine car this season, and its CEO inadvertently confirmed Colapinto’s promotion in a TV interview days before the official announcement.
Doohan, who debuted at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, accepted the news with professionalism.
“I am very proud to have achieved my lifelong ambition to be a professional Formula One driver and I will forever be grateful to the team for helping me achieve this dream,” Doohan said. “Obviously, this latest chapter is a tough one for me to take because, as a professional driver, naturally I want to be racing. That said, I appreciate the team’s trust and commitment.”
Alpine will reassess the driver situation after the Austrian GP, leaving open the possibility of further changes before the second half of the season.
