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Franco Colapinto will replace Jack Doohan at Alpine for at least the next five races of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Alpine has opted to rotate the two “as part of an ongoing assessment of its driver line-up” with Colapinto getting the Alpine race chance he expected after joining as test and reserve in January.
The short-term deal comprises the upcoming European triple-header of Imola, Monaco and Barcelona, plus the Canadian and Austrian Grands Prix.
Alpine will then re-evaluate its line-up before the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July.
“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,” said Colapinto, who scored points twice in a nine-race Williams stint last year.
“I will do my best to get up to speed quickly and give it my all to deliver the best possible results alongside Pierre.”
The change follows a difficult first six races of 2025 for Doohan, who has had two first-lap crashes in Australia and Miami, plus picked up penalties in both the sprint and main race in China, and had a big shunt in practice at Suzuka that compromised his weekend.
He is yet to score a point, although he did outqualify Pierre Gasly for the first time in Miami before colliding with Liam Lawson at the first corner and retiring from the race.
The decision has been driven by Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore, with Oliver Oakes resigning from his position as team principal the evening before the driver announcement - a clear indication that he wasn't on board with the decision.
“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,” said Briatore.
“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 in order to maximise our ambitions next year.
“We continue to support Jack at the team, as he has acted in a very professional manner in his role as a race driver so far this season.
“The next five races will give us an opportunity to try something different and after this time period we will assess our options.”
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Briatore’s reference to getting the choice right for 2026 means further changes later in the year are possible.
Doohan remains at Alpine and will be its first-choice reserve during Colapinto’s five-race stint. A return to a race seat has not been ruled out.
“I am very proud to have achieved my lifelong ambition to be a professional Formula 1 driver and I will forever be grateful to the team for helping me achieve this dream,” said Doohan.
“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. We have long-term goals as a team to achieve and I will continue to give my maximum efforts in any way I can to help achieve those.
“For now, I will keep my head down, keep working hard, watch with interest the next five races and keep chasing my own personal goals.”
Alpine’s desire to evaluate its line-up could also mean not just switching Doohan and Colapinto again, but potentially giving another of its reserves, Paul Aron, a chance.
Aron is highly rated at Alpine and is understood to have impressed with his speed in private testing.
