Alpine team principal Oakes denies that the signing of Franco Colapinto as reserve driver puts pressure on Jack Doohan, who will start as rookie in 2025
Is Alpine’s signing of reserve driver Franco Colapinto a threat to Formula One rookie Jack Doohan? Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes refutes such speculation and insists that Doohan will get a “fair chance” to prove himself in the 2025 season.
“It was a bit tough for Jack, some of the things that were written by the keyboard warriors there,” Oakes comments on the headlines surrounding Colapinto’s signing, emphasizing, ”Jack will get his fair chance next year.”
Doohan was announced as Esteban Ocon’s replacement for the coming season back in the summer, with the Australian given an unexpectedly early debut as part of his preparation for his first year when he stood in for Ocon after the Frenchman’s early release from his contract at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, Alpine, which had already announced junior driver Paul Aron as a reserve driver, has also added Colapinto to its line-up.
Colapinto as an investment in the future
The Argentine had been used by Williams last year as a replacement for Logan Sargeant, who had performed well below expectations. Colapinto, on the other hand, impressed immediately, scoring a total of five points in his first four Grand Prix weekends in Formula 1.
The 21-year-old’s speed and rapid adaptability even sparked interest from Red Bull for 2025, but as Williams’ form deteriorated and Colapinto suffered a series of costly accidents, that potential pairing quickly fell apart.
Alpine eventually agreed a deal with Williams for its highly rated reserve driver, a move that seems to have increased the pressure on Doohan before his F1 career has even properly begun.
But in James Allen’s Formula 1 podcast, the Alpine team principal emphasizes: “The intention is not to put pressure on his shoulders. It’s about giving the team options for the future. And for me, Formula 1 is a fine line.”
Oakes: “For us as a team, it’s great”
“There are a lot of people who depend on a driver every weekend, and we have to make sure we have the best drivers in the car, not just now but in the future,” explains Oakes. And Colapinto has made a ‘great first impression’ at Williams.
“I think it was clear to see that he maybe tried a bit too hard at the end. How much of it was the situation where he didn’t have a confirmed seat and was trying to impress too much, and how much of it was a compromise on the parts on the car, it’s hard to calculate,” said Oakes.
“But I think the key point is that he made a strong impression with his speed. And for us as a team, it’s great to have two young drivers in Paul and Franco who are on the starting blocks.”
Ultimately, it’s not just about 2025, but also about 2026 and 2027: “In Formula One, it’s difficult to plan what will happen and which drivers you will have in the car. It’s important to us that everyone can honestly assess their performance and give us options,” explains the team principal.
