Claims Franco Colapinto will replace Jack Doohan for Imola F1 race “just noise”

Alpine Formula 1 team boss Oliver Oakes denied rumours that Franco Colapinto would replace Jack Doohan at the next round in Imola, stating “today, that’s the case” that Doohan would continue.

Colapinto signed as Alpine’s reserve driver last January following his nine-grand-prix stint as a regular driver for Williams last year, and there has been much speculation ever since about the possibility of seeing the Argentine back on the F1 grid.

Doohan, Pierre Gasly’s new teammate for the 2025 season at Alpine, has not had results on par with the Frenchman so far, which has only led to increasing speculation about his stay at the Enstone team.

This speculation was fuelled further when Horacio Marín, CEO of Argentina’s state-owned oil company YPF, said in a television interview on La Nación+ – when he thought he was off-air – that Colapinto would debut with his new team at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, which will take place in Imola in two weeks.

He later clarified his comment, saying he had only said it as a personal hope: “What I’m saying is that I hope he races at Imola. And if that happens, he’ll call me.

“How am I supposed to have the information if I’m the president of YPF, not Colapinto’s representative? I have an extraordinary relationship with him, but we don’t talk all day long.”

During the team principals’ press conference on Friday at the Miami Grand Prix, Oakes was asked about the situation – and although he suggested that the speculation was natural, he took Marin’s comments with a pinch of salt.

When asked directly if he could confirm Doohan will be driving for the Alpine team at Imola, Oakes indicated that “today, it is the case” that the Australian will remain in his drive.

“I saw it like everyone else, I think it was a sponsor from Argentina off-camera giving his view on Franco when he’s going to be in the car. I’m sure there’s a lot of people in Argentina who’d like him in the car this Sunday,” he explained.

“I think we’ve been pretty open as a team, and that’s just noise out there. Jack needs to continue doing a good job but I think obviously it’s natural that there’s always that speculation there.”

“As it is today, Jack is our driver, along with Pierre. I think we’ve been pretty clear about that. I mean, we always evaluate it. But yes, today that’s the case.”

Photos from Miami GP – Practice