Alpine Formulation 1 crew boss Oliver Oakes denied rumours that Franco Colapinto would substitute Jack Doohan on the subsequent spherical in Imola, stating “as we speak, that is the case” that Doohan would proceed.
Colapinto signed as Alpine’s reserve driver final January following his nine-grand-prix stint as an everyday driver for Williams final yr, and there was a lot hypothesis ever since about the potential for seeing the Argentine again on the F1 grid.
Doohan, Pierre Gasly’s new teammate for the 2025 season at Alpine, has not had outcomes on par with the Frenchman up to now, which has solely led to growing hypothesis about his keep on the Enstone crew.
This hypothesis was fuelled additional when Horacio Marín, CEO of Argentina’s state-owned oil firm YPF, mentioned in a tv interview on La Nación+ – when he thought he was off-air – that Colapinto would debut together with his new crew on the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, which is able to happen in Imola in two weeks.
He later clarified his remark, saying he had solely mentioned it as a private hope: “What I am saying is that I hope he races at Imola. And if that occurs, he’ll name me.
“How am I purported to have the knowledge if I am the president of YPF, not Colapinto’s consultant? I’ve a rare relationship with him, however we do not speak all day lengthy.”
Oliver Oakes, Group Principal, Alpine F1 Group
Picture by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Photos
In the course of the crew principals’ press convention on Friday on the Miami Grand Prix, Oakes was requested in regards to the state of affairs – and though he advised that the hypothesis was pure, he took Marin’s feedback with a pinch of salt.
When requested straight if he may verify Doohan shall be driving for the Alpine crew at Imola, Oakes indicated that “as we speak, it’s the case” that the Australian will stay in his drive.
“I noticed it like everybody else, I feel it was a sponsor from Argentina off-camera giving his view on Franco when he will be within the automotive. I am certain there’s lots of people in Argentina who’d like him within the automotive this Sunday,” he defined.
“I feel we have been fairly open as a crew, and that is simply noise on the market. Jack must proceed doing job however I feel clearly it is pure that there is at all times that hypothesis there.”
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“As it’s as we speak, Jack is our driver, together with Pierre. I feel we have been fairly clear about that. I imply, we at all times consider it. However sure, as we speak that is the case.”
Images from Miami GP – Observe
On this article
Federico Faturos
Formulation 1
Jack Doohan
Franco Colapinto
Alpine
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