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Jack Doohan’s seat at Alpine has been called into question after the signing of Franco Colapinto as a reserve driver.
Alpine boss Oliver Oakes refrained from definitively denying rumors of a potential swap between Jack Doohan and Franco Colapinto when questioned by RacingNews365. Colapinto, an Argentine reserve driver signed from Williams, is reportedly on a deal to demonstrate his value to the team, while Australian Doohan is on a short-term contract to prove himself in his rookie season. Although Alpine stated that Doohan will start the season in Melbourne, his future with the team remains uncertain. Oakes, when directly asked to address the swap rumor during a successful pre-season test, opted not to provide a clear response, emphasizing the team’s transparency in its actions so far. He expressed his support for Doohan’s performance in testing and underscored the importance of giving the young driver space to excel on track. While acknowledging the media’s interest, Oakes emphasized the need for Doohan to focus on his driving and deliver results as a part of the team.