Alpine announced their second test and reserve driver in the space of a couple of hours when it confirmed the rumours that Franco Colapinto would be joining them in 2025.
The Argentine was tipped to be joining the team after an arrangement was made between Williams and Alpine ahead of the 2025 season for him to leave the Grove-based outfit.
The French team – which is led by Oliver Oakes – will be lining up Pierre Gasly with Jack Doohan at the first race in Melbourne, but the latter’s seat now appears at risk.
Doohan has already made a head start when he took part in the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi, although the debut did lead some in F1 underwhelmed including Jolyon Palmer. Now F1 fans are all saying the same thing about him when discussing the news on social media.
F1 Fans point to Jack Doohan after Franco Colapinto news
After the announcement was made by Alpine on their social channels, one fan commented: “How many races is Doohan lasting?”
F1 fans are now prepared for the scenario where Doohan is ousted in favour for Colapinto, with one fan commenting: “Franco Colapinto has signed a multi-year contract with Alpine, and will be a test and reserve driver in the 2025 season. In practice, if Doohan doesn’t perform, there’s already a driver who will replace him. No pressure, Jack, no pressure.”
Another fan said: Colapinto is in at Alpine as a reserve? Alright, place your bets: how long until Doohan is kicked for Colapinto? Honestly, I kinda feel for Doohan, it’s like a ton of pressure is already on him to succeed, which probably won’t help him much and risks just setting the guy up for failure. You know the saying: You can’t drive a truckload of pressure in then say “No Pressure!”
One fan thinks it will be earlier in the season that Colapinto replaced Doohan: “So Colapinto will be taking Doohan’s seat halfway through the season got it.”
Another thinks it’s now a foregone conclusion for the Australian: “That’s curtains for Doohan then. No way is Colapinto being signed to sit in the garage all year.” While another added: “Must be a guaranteed race seat for 2025. What did Williams get out of it?”
Franco Colapinto eyeing race seat in 2025 if Jack Doohan does not deliver on promise
James Vowles said the deal is Colapinto’s “best chance of securing a race seat in 2025 or 2026” when speaking in the Williams press release issued just minutes after Alpine.
Colapinto impressed on his debut with Williams and in the six races that he contested with the team, having scored points on two occasions.
READ MORE: Who is Alpine reserve driver Franco Colapinto? Everything to know
Despite not finishing three of the final four races of the season and costing Williams millions in crash damage, he caught the eye of Flavio Briatore.
It appears the underwhelming start for Doohan has now made Alpine look towards a Plan B if he does not deliver on his promise. The team also has Paul Aaron and the newly announced Rio Hirakawa to pick from as well as Colapinto from their test and reserve driver pool.
Leave feedback about this