F1 dream over for Jack Doohan as Alpine lock in Franco Colapinto as replacement for next five weeks

Jack Doohan’s Formula 1 career is all but over after Alpine confirmed the Australian had raced his last race. And the team has wasted no time in naming his replacement.

Australian F1 driver Jack Doohan says being sacked after just six races is “a tough one for me to take” but has vowed to keep supporting the Alpine team as first reserve driver after confirmation of a shakeup at the struggling outfit.

Alpine confirmed on Wednesday that Doohan would be replaced by Argentine Franco Colapinto for the “next five rounds”, ending what has been a tumultuous rookie season for the son of motorcycling legend Mick Doohan.

The 22-year-old was forced to endure ongoing rumours from the season-opening grand prix in Melbourne that notorious team executive advisor Flavio Briatore wanted to replace him with Colapinto.

Doohan did his career no favours on the track, crashing out at three of the five tracks including on the opening lap of the race in both Melbourne and last week in Miami, plus a massive practice crash in Japan when he attempted a high speed corner with DRS open.

He had yet to score a single point in the F1 season, one of just four drivers on the grid yet to place in the top 10, with Alpine languishing in ninth out of 10 teams in the constructors’ title battle.

“I am very proud to have achieved my lifelong ambition to be a professional Formula One driver and I will forever be grateful to the team for helping me achieve this dream,” Doohan said.

Jack Doohan walks in the paddock alongside his father, Mick Doohan, during the Chinese Grand Prix. Picture: Getty Images

“Obviously, this latest chapter is a tough one for me to take because, as a professional driver, naturally I want to be racing.

“That said, I appreciate the team’s trust and commitment. We have long-term goals as a team to achieve and I will continue to give my maximum efforts in any way I can to help achieve those.

“For now, I will keep my head down, keep working hard, watch with interest the next five races and keep chasing my own personal goals.”

BREAKING: Franco Colapinto to race at least the next five races for Alpine in place of Jack Doohan#F1pic.twitter.com/HLarDPmYP8

— Formula 1 (@F1) May 7, 2025

Alpine said the driver shuffle was part of an “on-going assessment of its driver line-up” and comes just 24 hours after team principal Oliver Oakes quit immediately.

Colapinto will be paired with Pierre Gasly at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix and will get five race weekends to prove himself ahead of a new evaluation before the British Grand Prix in July.

Briatore claims Alpine has “drastically improved” their car in 2025, although Gasly’s seventh place in Bahrain is the team’s only top 10 finish thus far.

Jack Doohan endured a tough run, including this crash in Japan, as he failed to register a point for Alpine. Picture: Getty Images

“Having reviewed the opening races of the season, we have come to the decision to put Franco in the car alongside Pierre for the next five races,” Briatore said.

“With the field being so closely matched this year, and with a competitive car, which the team has drastically improved in the past 12 months, we are in a position where we see the need to rotate our line-up.

“We also know the 2026 season will be an important one for the team and having a complete and fair assessment of the drivers this season is the right thing to do in order to maximise our ambitions next year.

“We continue to support Jack at the team, as he has acted in a very professional manner in his role as a race driver so far this season. The next five races will give us an opportunity to try something different and after this time period we will assess our options.”

Franco Colapinto will replace Jack Doohan for Alpine’s next five races. Picture: Getty Images

Colapinto, who impressed with two top 10 finishes in nine races for Williams last season, is ready to take his chance with the French outfit.

“Firstly, I want to thank the team for giving me the opportunity to drive competitively for the next five races,” he said.

“I will work hard with the team to prepare for the next race in Imola and the upcoming triple-header, which will no doubt be intense and a big challenge for everyone.

“I have stayed sharp, and I am as ready as possible with the team’s race support testing programme, as well as on the simulator at Enstone. I will do my best to get up to speed quickly and give it my all to deliver the best possible results alongside Pierre.”

Originally published as F1 dream over for Jack Doohan as Alpine lock in Franco Colapinto as replacement for next five weeks