Franco Colapinto has replaced Jack Doohan at Alpine ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, yet Flavio Briatore only gifted the Argentine a five-round deal.
The Enstone outfit have opted to move Doohan back into a reserve driver role after failing to score a single point. But Alpine have afforded themselves the chance to refresh their line-up again before the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 4-6, should Colapinto fail to deliver.
Colapinto largely impressed with Williams at the tail end of the 2024 F1 season as a stand-in replacement for Logan Sargeant before Carlos Sainz arrived. So, Alpine paid Williams £8.5m to sign Colapinto as a reserve driver, which immediately increased the pressure on Doohan.
Ultimately, it was pressure that the Australian would not overcome and has cost him a place on the grid. Doohan cost Alpine more in repairs than any F1 driver in 2025 after the 22-year-old’s crashes in Australia, Japan and Miami, whilst failing to finish higher than 13th in China.
Franco Colapinto ‘knows’ Flavio Briatore will promote Paul Aron if Alpine’s new driver flops
But Colapinto is not feeling ‘at ease’ himself ahead of the 21-year-old’s debut for Alpine this week at Imola in the Emilia Romagna GP. That is according to AutoRacer, which reports that the Buenos Aires native feels under pressure as Briatore only confirmed him for five rounds.
READ MORE: Who is Alpine 2025 F1 driver Franco Colapinto? Everything you need to know
The Argentine can largely rely on his South American sponsors also now backing Alpine. But Colapinto ‘knows’ that Briatore is ready to replace Doohan’s successor at the end of his five-round run with fellow Alpine reserve driver Paul Aron if he does not hit the ‘strict standards’.
Executive adviser Briatore has gained full control of Alpine after team principal Oliver Oakes resigned a day before the Italian demoted Doohan for Colapinto in an unrelated move. He is now keen to see what Colapinto can offer Alpine after earning Williams five points last term.
Paul Aron’s speed in private tests has impressed Alpine as they consider their future driver line-up
Briatore will hope Colapinto can repeat his initial efforts for Williams last season after he hit the ground running upon replacing Sargeant. The Argentine was 12th on his F1 debut in the 2024 Italian Grand Prix, and even earned his first points next time out with P8 in Azerbaijan.
READ MORE: Who is Alpine reserve driver Paul Aron? All to know from age to racing stats
The Williams product also took another point with P10 in the 2024 United States Grand Prix in Austin. But the wheels then fell off his wagon after Colapinto and Alex Albon cost Williams seven figures in Sao Paulo, and the former then faced another expensive shunt in Las Vegas.
Still, hardly anyone at Alpine expects Doohan will return in the car at Silverstone as Briatore believes Colapinto is the future of Formula 1, so thus the team. It is also said that Colapinto only has to perform OK to stay at Alpine past his initial five-round stint next to Pierre Gasly.
But he must turn Briatore’s belief into results, starting from the Emilia Romagna GP at Imola. Also, Aron’s pace in private tests has impressed Alpine as the Estonian has been really quick when given Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) runs, so could become an option for a race seat.
