Alpine’s Driver Swap Sparks Outrage as Gasly’s Future Comes Under Scrutiny
Alpine’s mid-season driver change has stirred significant backlash within the Formula 1 community, with former F1 star Juan Pablo Montoya slamming the decision as “unacceptable.” The controversy follows the team’s abrupt removal of Jack Doohan from the racing seat after only six Grand Prix weekends in the 2025 season. Doohan, who earned a full-time seat after serving as Alpine’s reserve driver for two years, has now been demoted back to his previous role, making way for Argentinian driver Franco Colapinto.
Colapinto, who gained attention during his temporary stint at Williams in the latter half of last season, is set to drive in the next five races for Alpine. The team, which has been struggling to climb the constructors’ standings, currently sits second from the bottom with just seven points to their name – all scored by Pierre Gasly. Doohan had not managed to secure any points before being replaced.
Montoya, speaking to Sites de Apostas, voiced strong support for Doohan and criticized Alpine’s decision-making process. “From a driver’s point of view, this is unacceptable,” he said. “They committed to Jack Doohan. They signed him, believing he was the best choice. To pull him out after only a few races shows a lack of commitment and fairness.”
The former Williams and McLaren driver also questioned the rationale behind the timing of the change. “When Flavio Briatore returned to the team setup, it seems they struck a deal that gave Doohan only five races to prove himself,” Montoya explained. “If that’s the case, why not offer equal chances to all contenders? Give five races each to Doohan, Colapinto, and even Paul Aron [the team’s other reserve driver]. That would be a more reasonable and transparent way to assess who deserves the seat long-term.”
Flavio Briatore, who recently assumed greater control at Alpine following the sudden resignation of team principal Oliver Oakes, is believed to be playing a key role in reshaping the driver lineup. The internal shake-up has only added to the turbulence surrounding the Enstone-based team.
Montoya also pointed out the potential long-term consequences of Colapinto’s performance on Pierre Gasly’s career. “Briatore is thinking about next year already – who the main driver pairing should be. If Colapinto starts outperforming Gasly, then Gasly’s position could be in real jeopardy,” he noted.
Gasly, a former Grand Prix winner, has had a disappointing start to the 2025 season. His seven-point tally is meager for a driver of his experience, and with Alpine languishing near the bottom of the championship table, team management is under pressure to explore alternative options to boost competitiveness.
Colapinto’s return to the grid is being viewed as a critical audition. His earlier F1 experience, where he replaced Logan Sargeant at Williams, turned heads and suggested he might be ready for a more permanent role. Now, with five races to prove himself, the spotlight is firmly on the young Argentine to deliver results that justify the gamble Alpine has taken.
Doohan, meanwhile, expressed his disappointment over the decision via a public statement last week, thanking fans and the team for their support but making clear his frustration. Having worked hard to graduate from the reserve role into a full-time seat, only to be sidelined after a few underwhelming races, the 22-year-old Australian now faces an uncertain future in the sport.
Alpine’s next race is the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, where Briatore will be officially overseeing operations. The team hopes that changes both on and off the track will reverse their early-season struggles, but questions continue to mount over the stability of Alpine’s leadership, driver management, and long-term vision.
