The days following the Miami GP were full of news for Alpine, as after Oliver Oakes’ departure, Flavio Briatore announced the seat swap between Jack Doohan and Franco Colapinto. This news had been in the air for months but only now has become official.
The Argentine, formerly with Williams, thus returns to Formula 1, but with a temporary contract. The agreement provides that Franco Colapinto will be alongside Gasly for the next five races, after which the French team will reassess with a view to the future. It’s an unusual move, as it could lead to a second driver line-up change during the season.
Flavio Briatore explains the reason for the swap
On the occasion of the official announcement, Flavio Briatore wanted to explain the reasons that led to this decision. “After analyzing the first races of the season, we decided to place Franco Colapinto alongside Pierre Gasly for the next five races,” said Alpine’s executive advisor. “With a very tight grid and a competitive car, which has improved a lot in the past twelve months, we’re in a position where we feel the need to rotate our line-up. We know that 2026 will be a very important year for the team, and that’s why we want to have a clear idea of who our driver pairing should be for the next season,” added Flavio Briatore.
As for Jack Doohan, this is not a definitive rejection. “He will continue to be part of the team and we will continue to support him. He performed very well in the first races of the year, proving to be a very professional driver. The next five races will give us the opportunity to try something new, and after this period we will carefully evaluate our options,” concluded the Italian entrepreneur.
It now remains to be seen whether this rotation could also involve Pierre Gasly, or if the Frenchman can consider his future secure.
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