Juan Pablo Montoya warns seven-point F1 driver he may not be as safe as he thinks, ‘they can drop him’

The 2025 Formula 1 season has already seen two drivers receive demotions. As the driver market remains as chaotic as ever, it is set to see more action throughout the year.

Red Bull made the first driver change of 2025 after just two races. Liam Lawson was demoted back to Racing Bulls after a torrid start to the campaign.

The New Zealander failed to reach Q2 in the first two Grands Prix and score points, which prompted Red Bull to place Yuki Tsunoda into the seat for the remainder of the season.

Juan Pablo Montoya tips Arvid Lindblad to replace Lawson in 2026, with Red Bull extensively preparing the 17-year-old behind the scenes. The Colombian has also given his thoughts on another team heavily active in the driver market.

Alpine have dropped Jack Doohan after six races in 2025, handing his seat to reserve driver Franco Colapinto. The move had been rumoured to happen even before the Aussie made his debut in Abu Dhabi in 2024.

Flavio Briatore played a key role in signing Colapinto from Williams and has been pushing to get him into Alpine. After Oliver Oakes resigned as team principal, the former Benetton and Renault boss has made the switch happen.

Juan Pablo Montoya wonders if Pierre Gasly could be dropped by Alpine if Franco Colapinto beats him

Interestingly, Colapinto has only been given a five-race deal as Doohan’s replacement. Alpine plan to reassess their pool of drivers come the British Grand Prix.

Montoya thinks Colapinto’s deal is ‘strange’, but it prompted an interesting question from the former Williams and McLaren driver.

The Argentine will be up against Gasly at Alpine, who has scored the team’s seven points thus far in 2025. While the Frenchman is vastly more experienced, Colapinto has a proven track record of performing against his teammates, evidenced by his pace against Alex Albon at Williams.

Speaking via AS Colombia, Montoya wondered if Gasly could be dropped if Colapinto beats him. Knowing Briatore’s cutthroat reputation with his drivers, they can drop him’ even if he does have a long-term contract.

“I think Franco knows what’s going on in this situation. And the best way to shut up, as they say in Colombia, everyone’s mouth is by giving results.

I think the next interesting question is, okay, if Franco comes in and starts beating Gasly, does Gasly get dropped every race?

“I think Gasly has a solid enough contract not to get dropped, but nowadays you’ve seen that when they want to drop someone they can drop him.”

READ MORE: Alpine driver Pierre Gasly’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

How does Franco Colapinto compare to Pierre Gasly ahead of his Alpine debut?

Colapinto will make his debut for Alpine at Imola next weekend. Given his short deal, he will be under immediate pressure to perform, especially with Gasly on the other side of the garage.

The Frenchman’s experience makes him the lead driver at Alpine, but his pace deficit to Doohan in the opening six races does raise some questions. The Aussie kept pace with Gasly for much of the Grand Prix, even outqualifying him in Miami.

Colapinto put Albon under pressure when he stepped into Williams as Logan Sargeant’s replacement. With extensive testing under his belt, he will look to do the same at Alpine against Gasly and keep his seat.

Colapinto produced solid pace at Zandvoort in a TPC test, coming close to Gasly’s practice times in the A523 in 2023. Obviously, making comparisons is difficult due to different track temperatures and conditions, but it is encouraging for the Argentine.

It seems unlikely that Gasly will be dropped mid-season, but knowing Briatore, it might not be ruled out. Paul Aron has ‘genuinely impressed’ Alpine behind the scenes as he is next in line for an F1 seat.