Motor racing-Alpine sign Colapinto with Doohan's seat at risk (updated)

Voestalpine AG

09/01/2025 17:54

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      Colapinto, 21, joins Alpine from Williams
    

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      Move puts pressure on Australian rookie Doohan
    

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      Vowles suggests Colapinto could be back on grid this year
    

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      Briatore says Argentine is one of the best young talents 
    

  
 (Adds Colapinto signed from Williams)
    By Alan Baldwin
       LONDON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - 
    The Alpine Formula One team piled pressure on Australian
rookie Jack Doohan on Thursday by signing Argentine Franco
Colapinto as a reserve ready to replace him.
  
        Renault-owned Alpine said the 21-year-old, impressive
despite several crashes last year when he was brought in
mid-season by Williams to replace dropped American Logan
Sargeant, had joined on a multi-year deal.
  
        There has been speculation for months about Doohan's
future, and the likelihood that the son of motorcycle great Mick
will be swapped out for Colapinto if he fails to hit performance
targets.
  
        Doohan, also 21, was the team reserve before making his
race debut in Abu Dhabi last month for the departed French
driver Esteban Ocon.
  
        "Clearly, Franco is among the best young talents in
motorsport right now," said Alpine's executive advisor Flavio
Briatore, whose words will also have done little for Doohan's
morale.
  
        "It is fair to say his appearance on the Formula One
grid last year caught many, me included, by surprise and his
performances have been very impressive for a rookie driver.
  
        "We have an eye on our future and his signing means we
have a great pool of young drivers to call upon and work with in
developing the team for future success."
  
        The team also have Japanese Ryo Hirakawa, who was
announced on Thursday, and young Estonian F2 driver Paul Aron on
their reserve list.
        Doohan's promotion to the race seat was announced in
August, after former boss Briatore's return to the team was
confirmed and Oliver Oakes had been appointed principal, but
before Colapinto's race debut at Monza on Sept 1.
  
        "We’ll start the year with Pierre (Gasly) and Jack, I
can guarantee that. After that, we’ll see as the season
progresses," Briatore told France's Le Parisien newspaper last
month in comments that rang alarm bells.
    Williams boss James Vowles said Colapinto, who has attracted
strong sponsor interest and fan support in Latin America,
deserved a place in F1.
        "We believe this agreement with Alpine represents
Franco's best chance of securing a race seat in 2025 or 2026,"
the Briton said.
  
        "We are proud to have returned Argentina to the F1 grid,
want to thank Franco for everything he has brought to the team
and look forward to future battles on track."    
  
    The F1 season starts with Doohan's home Australian Grand
Prix on March 16.

 (Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London; Editing by Kate Mayberry
and Ed Osmond)
 ((alan.baldwin@thomsonreuters.com; +442075427933;))