is on the verge of shedding his F1 seat at Alpine – with poised to interchange him.
Doohan, 22, solely made his eventually 12 months’s season-ending grand prix in Abu Dhabi, changing , however has been below strain from the beginning of the 2025 season.
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The of Argentine driver Colapinto from Williams, signed as a reserve driver by Alpine govt adviser , instantly positioned Doohan’s future below the highlight.
Australian driver Doohan is but to attain some extent in six races this 12 months and was compelled to retire from Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix after a first-lap collision with Liam Lawson.
Now, a number of reviews have indicated that Alpine are set to interchange Doohan with Colapinto for the subsequent race, the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola. Alpine haven’t commented formally on the hypothesis.
Colapinto, 21, has been present process TPC (Testing of Earlier Automobiles) periods with Alpine in latest weeks, resulting in hypothesis {that a} change might be imminent.
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The Argentine impressed in 9 races for Williams final 12 months however a 2025 seat was by no means on the playing cards on the Grove-based outfit, with Carlos Sainz already introduced as becoming a member of Alex Albon because the group’s driver pairing.
In addition to Colapinto, Alpine additionally signed Paul Aron as a reserve driver within the low season. Ryo Hirakawa was additionally on the group, earlier than shifting to Haas final month.
Franco Colapinto seems to be set to interchange Doohan for the subsequent race in Imola (Getty Photos)
Doohan, who’s the son of five-time motorbike world champion Mick Doohan, was requested about Colapinto’s presence on the group on the 2025 season launch occasion in London in February.
“You’re at all times going to have strain in your shoulders, since you’re in such a cut-throat sport,” he stated.
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“However no matter strain there could also be, I sit up for having fun with that, embracing it, and simply having fun with my Method 1 season.”
Flavio Briatore returned to Alpine final 12 months (Getty Photos)
But requested additional whether or not he feels “undermined” by Colapinto’s arrival, Doohan replied: “Is {that a} query?”
“I used to be a 21-year-old reserve driver final 12 months with a long-term contract however no I don’t [feel undermined]. Perhaps I ought to, I don’t know.
“I don’t actually perceive how that’s a query, however positively not.” A 3rd query associated to Colapinto’s arrival was shortly dismissed by an Alpine press officer.
Doohan crashed out of the season-opening race in Australia and in addition suffered an enormous crash in observe on the Japanese GP.
His finest end to date this season was a Thirteenth-place end within the Chinese language GP, although he did obtain a 10-second penalty post-race for forcing Isack Hadjar off observe.
