P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Franco Colapinto replaces Jack Doohan at Alpine with immediate effect, while team boss Oliver Oakes has also left. The chaos is complete at the French team.
Before the start of the new F1 season, there was a lot of discussion around Alpine’s driver lineup, with Jack Doohan joining Pierre Gasly but soon facing pressure as Franco Colapinto was recruited as a reserve driver. The unexpected driver swap and team principal Oliver Oakes stepping down came amidst rumors of Doohan’s potential replacement post-Miami Grand Prix. Flavio Briatore, now leading Alpine, justified the lineup change as a strategic decision for the 2026 season and maximizing their ambitions. Despite Doohan’s struggles and incidents, like crashing in Japan and at Miami, his potential was shown in outpacing Gasly in qualifying at Miami.
Alpine’s decision was also influenced by financial interests, as Colapinto’s Argentine sponsors played a substantial role, similar to their involvement with Williams last year. Unconventional moves, including shifting Doohan’s race engineer to Gasly and the integration of Ryo Hirakawa in practice, added complexity to Doohan’s adaptation as a rookie. It was revealed that Alpine had been contemplating alternating Doohan and Colapinto early on, amid a backdrop of political maneuvering within the team. The team’s outlook focused not only on driver performance but also on broader considerations for competitive advantage and long-term goals.
