Jack Doohan will be gutted when he hears what Franco Colapinto now has to do to retain his Alpine F1 seat for the rest of 2025

Alpine have swapped Jack Doohan for Franco Colapinto after six races of the 2025 Formula 1 season.

The move had been rumoured to happen all season, with the signing of Colapinto from Williams on a long-term contract putting pressure on Doohan to perform.

In the opening six races, the Aussie failed to score points but had been keeping pace with his teammate Pierre Gasly, outqualifying him for the first time in Miami. However, crashes have been his undoing, with Doohan racking up £1.12m in damages – the highest crash bill of any driver.

It was expected that the 22-year-old would be given until the summer break to prove himself. But Oliver Oakes’ resignation as Alpine team principal allowed Flavio Briatore to do what he has wanted to do all along and get Colapinto into the car.

The Argentine impressed at Williams last season as Colpainto replaced Logan Sargeant for the final nine races. Scoring five points in that time, he attracted Briatore’s attention, who immediately sought to bring him to Alpine.

Now, the 21-year-old has been given another opportunity in a race seat. However, Colapinto will have a shorter period in the A525 than Doohan as he is only signed on for the next five races.

Franco Colapinto only has to perform ‘OK’ to retain his Alpine seat for the rest of 2025 – Jack Doohan will be gutted

Alpine plan to reassess their driver pool come the British Grand Prix in July – Colapinto has until then to prove his skills in the team and put in solid performances.

He may not even be expected to do that. Journalist Craig Slater has suggested that the Argentine has to perform ‘OK’ to keep his seat for the rest of 2025.

“The fact that it’s just for five races is an unusual thing. I think the expectation is that if he does OK, he’ll be there for the rest of the year,” he said via The F1 Show.

“I’m being guided that, as far as the team are concerned, this isn’t a season where they’re going to be tearing up trees. They think they can do very well in 2026 with the supply of Mercedes engines.

“And therefore, they’re using these races to assess their driver pool, which means they’ve had a look at Jack Doohan, it’s not out the question apparently.

“I think it’d be pretty far-fetched if he were to come back in the car. There’s also Paul Aron and there’s Colapinto.”

The term ‘OK’ could have a few meanings, but it is not exactly associated with the highest level of performance. It can be argued that Doohan was performing at that level before his demotion, keeping up with Gasly through most of the weekends.

Accidents cost him dearly, but that is to be expected from a rookie. The fact that Colapinto seemingly has low expectations for the next five races will be a gut punch to Doohan, considering he was making progress at Alpine.

READ MORE: Who is Alpine 2025 F1 driver Franco Colapinto? Everything you need to know

Franco Colapinto has Jack Doohan similarities that he must shake to keep his Alpine seat

Colapinto has the security of a long-term contract at Alpine, but his five-race deal in place of Doohan will apply more pressure on him than the Aussie to retain his seat.

Alpine have only scored seven points thus far this season, all through Gasly as they sit eighth in the constructors’ championship. Colapinto will surely be expected to get points on the board, as he did with Williams in 2024.

But Alpine should be worried by Colapinto’s crash-proneness, as he has had an alarming number of accidents like Doohan in his F1 career. The Enstone squad will be desperate for the Argentine to keep his car out of the barriers – he could lose his seat if he fails to do so.

Some Alpine staff were not keen on signing Colapinto, presumably for his multitude of accidents. If he can tidy up his act and get his car into a points-scoring position, the 21-year-old will surely have done enough to stay for the rest of the campaign.