Jack Doohan is poised to be replaced for the upcoming Formula 1 race at Imola, as Alpine has reportedly communicated its decision to make an immediate change. This follows the earlier promotion of the rookie driver to a race seat for 2025 after missing out on signing Carlos Sainz, who joined Williams.
Before even making his debut, Doohan’s position appeared to be in jeopardy, especially with Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore contemplating the addition of Franco Colapinto. In fact, talks regarding bringing Colapinto, who temporarily filled in at Williams in 2024, had been ongoing even as Doohan made his debut in the 2024 season finale.
Colapinto officially joined Alpine in January, which intensified the pressure on Doohan leading into his rookie season. Although he has demonstrated strong potential at times—amazing some with his early pace this season—his results have been lacking. After six races, Doohan remains without a point, highlighted by a retirement in the Miami Grand Prix following an incident at the first corner with Liam Lawson, despite impressively outqualifying teammate Pierre Gasly in a recent qualifying session.
While some of Doohan’s struggles can be attributed to Alpine’s challenging start to the year, which defied their optimistic pre-season expectations, he has struggled to consistently match Gasly’s performance and has made several mistakes throughout the races.
As of now, Alpine has not publicly commented on the situation regarding Doohan or its future driver lineup, although it is understood that he will remain part of Alpine’s driver roster despite the change. Colapinto is likely to step into Doohan’s seat for the Imola race, with another reserve driver, Paul Aron, also being a possible contender for the position.
This situation highlights a common challenge faced by rookie drivers in Formula 1, where the margins for error are slim, and the competition is fierce. As the season progresses, there is hope that Alpine’s decision will ultimately pave the way for a stronger performance from both their team and drivers.