Following Oakes' departure, Alpine officially Colapinto as its lead driver

Last week, Franco Colapinto's return to Formula 1 as a regular driver for the Alpine team was confirmed. The young Argentinian will replace Australian driver Jack Doohan, who drove for the French team during these six races and will now continue as a reserve driver.

Photo: BWT Alpine F1 Team

However, the Argentinian's arrival marks a time of numerous and unexpected changes for the French team. Since the end of last season, when Alpine confirmed Jack Doohan as its second driver and Franco Colapinto as its reserve driver at the beginning of this year, the team's structure began to shift.

Following Colapinto's official announcement as a reserve driver, Alpine made a strategic move with Williams to secure the young Argentinian talent for the coming years. The transfer involved a considerable sum of money, sparking immediate speculation about a possible promotion to full-time driver at some point during the season. Everything indicated that the team was already eyeing a more prominent role for Colapinto in the short term.

However, the season began with a lineup consisting of Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan, a decision that quickly generated controversy. From the outset, the Australian driver was the target of criticism from fans, specialized press, and experts, who openly expressed their desire to see Franco Colapinto occupy the seat

During the first few races, one of the most discussed topics in the paddock was precisely the possibility of Colapinto replacing Doohan, a situation that generated discomfort for both the team and its principal, Oliver Oakes. The pressure on Doohan became evident, to the point that in various interviews and press conferences, Oakes asked that the Australian be left alone, assuring him that the team fully supported him and highlighting some positive performances by the young driver so far this season.

Despite this public support, speculation continued, especially when Flavio Briatore Alpine's advisor and a key figure within the team 

began to show increasing closeness to the Argentine. This growing relationship between Briatore and Colapinto only fueled rumors of an imminent change in the starting lineup.

But everything took a complete turn last week when Oliver Oakes's resignation as team principal was announced. With just six races underway in the season, the news shocked the paddock and the Formula 1 community, especially because his departure was reportedly related to a legal issue his brother is facing in England, in which Oakes is also allegedly implicated.

However, what caught the most attention was the immediate appointment of Flavio Briatore as senior advisor and interim team principal while Alpine searches for a permanent replacement. This decision did not go unnoticed and quickly sparked speculation about an imminent change in the starting lineup. Briatore's close relationship with Franco Colapinto significantly increased the chances of the Argentine becoming the team's main driver and jeopardized Jack Doohan's future within the team.

During the Miami Grand Prix weekend, rumors about a replacement began to grow louder within the paddock. In fact, several sources indicated that the decision had already been made and that, after the race, the team had informed Doohan that he would lose his seat in favor of Colapinto.

Oliver Oakes's resignation was made official last Wednesday, accompanied by the surprising announcement of Flavio Briatore as the new team principal. Just one day later, Alpine officially confirmed the addition of Franco Colapinto as its regular driver, while Jack Doohan returned to his role as reserve driver. However, the most surprising detail was the length of the Argentine's contract: just six races.

This decision took many by surprise, as it was expected that, if promoted, Colapinto would remain as the main driver for the remainder of the season. However, his incorporation under a limited contract follows the same logic that Alpine applied with Doohan: offering an evaluation period in real competition to determine if the driver is up to the demands of Formula 1.

At the end of these six races, the French team will analyze the Argentine's performance and make a final decision: whether to keep him in the seat or find a new replacement for the remainder of the championship.

With all this, Franco Colapinto will officially debut as a regular driver for Alpine next weekend at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola. His contract, as announced, will extend through the Austrian Grand Prix, giving the Argentine a total of six races to demonstrate his potential in the top category.

Meanwhile, the waters at Alpine remain turbulent. The team is undergoing a profound internal restructuring process, marked by departures, unexpected appointments, and decisions that have surprised both inside and outside the paddock. With multiple unknowns still to be resolved from the technical direction to the final driver lineup the immediate future of the French team remains open and under close observation.