Alpine Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore has refused to rule out a mid-season driver change during the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Alpine will continue with Pierre Gasly in 2025, alongside rookie Jack Doohan.
Doohan graduated from his reserve driver role at Alpine early to make his Grand Prix debut at the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi, ahead of his first full campaign next year.
However, the rumour mill has been turning in recent weeks suggesting Briatore held an interest in Franco Colapinto for 2025.
The Italian ultimately didn’t make a swing to axe Doohan early but hasn’t made assurances the Australian will see out the 2025 campaign.
“The only certain thing is death,” Briatore told Le Parisien.
“We start the year with Pierre and Jack, I guarantee it. After that, we’ll see during the season.
“I have to help the team reach a situation where it can achieve results.
“The driver is the one who has to finish the work of the almost one thousand people behind him.
“Everyone works for just two people. And if there is a driver who is not making progress, who is not bringing results, he will be changed.”
Given Gasly’s recent excellence in securing Alpine sixth in the 2024 Constructors’ standings and Doohan’s relative inexperience, one can only assume Briatore’s ultimatum is about the latter.
Briatore keeping tabs on Colapinto
Should Doohan fail to meet expectations at Alpine, it’s hard to see Briatore, a ruthless F1 negotiator, having any trouble moving the young Australian on.
Should that be the case, Briatore has options at his disposal, both cheap and expensive.
Newly signed reserve driver and Formula 2 race winner Paul Aron would be a cheap option.
Meanwhile, Colapinto, who starred during his nine-race cameo at Williams in 2024, would require a buyout.
When Auto Motor und Sport asked Briatore to explain his interest in Colapinto he said: “I’m interested in any driver who is fast. Colapinto surprised everyone.
“But we have contracts with Gasly, Doohan and Aron for next season,” he added.
“If there was an opportunity to get Colapinto for 2026, you have to think about it.”
Giving Doohan a whole season to prove himself would be a fair deal and making changes at the end of 2025 ahead of ’26 would be simpler for Alpine as well.
Options beyond Colapinto would present themselves in this instance, with Racing Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda already considering his future and the likes of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez looking for a way back into F1.
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