Flavio Briatore organizes ‘derby’ between Colapinto and Doohan: head-to-head showdown in Barcelona with A523. Flavio Briatore organizes ‘derby’ between Franco Colapinto and Jack Doohan.

The first duel of the year
The 2025 Formula 1 season has yet to begin, but a battle that could have real implications for the championship has already taken place. Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s senior advisor, organized—almost in true *The Apprentice* style—a direct comparison between Jack Doohan, who is set to start the season as Alpine’s race driver, and Franco Colapinto, who was officially signed from Williams as a reserve driver but is widely rumored to be a potential mid-season replacement for the Australian.

Flavio Briatore as an interested spectator
The head-to-head took place on Wednesday, February 5, in Barcelona during a TPC test session—meaning the cars used had to be at least two seasons old—with both drivers running in an A523. Unlike typical test sessions, Alpine did not promote this event on its official social media channels. However, the Italian manager himself revealed the test through an Instagram story, showing Franco Colapinto stepping out of the car after a stint. It was also confirmed that Jack Doohan was present.

According to French outlet *Nextgen-Auto*, Flavio Briatore requested a “very detailed report” on both Franco Colapinto and Jack Doohan, evaluating their performance levels, behavior, setup work, feedback quality, teamwork ability, mindset, and stress management under pressure. This in-depth assessment could have a major impact on both drivers’ seasons. Jack Doohan, in particular, faces growing speculation that the Argentine could take his seat as early as after the first five races of the 2025 Formula 1 season.