F1 fans have spotted ‘diabolical’ hint that Franco Colapinto will replace Jack Doohan at Alpine in 2025, ‘crazy foreshadowing…’

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One of the most hotly discussed topics every Formula 1 season is the driver’s market.

Half of the seats on the grid are occupied by different drivers in 2025 compared to last year, with Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari by far the most high-profile move.

Many of the drivers signed multi-year contracts last year, meaning that speculation should be significantly reduced throughout this campaign.

However, one team that have fueled speculation over the winter months is Alpine.

Pierre Gasly has been a mainstay in the team for several seasons but he’s been joined by Jack Doohan for 2025.

Doohan made his debut at last season’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in place of Esteban Ocon but has watched Alpine sign four new reserve drivers over the past few months.

The most exciting new driver who has joined the team’s ranks is Franco Colapinto on a long-term loan from Williams.

Alpine haven’t done the best job when it comes to removing some of the speculation surrounding the two youngsters and a video released on the official Formula 1 YouTube channel will only fuel things further.

READ MORE: Who is Alpine reserve driver Franco Colapinto? Everything to know

Franco Colapinto features in F1’s behind-the-scenes shoot for the 2025 opening titles

One of the most anticipated moments ahead of each season is the opening credits featuring all 20 drivers.

It runs in reserve order of how each team finished in the constructors’ standings except for the champion, so Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto is the first driver to appear and Max Verstappen is last.

George Russell went viral last season for his iconic ‘T-pose’ and brought it back again in 2025.

However, a video released on Formula 1’s official YouTube channel has shown some behind-the-scenes footage of the credits being filmed.

All 20 current drivers feature but so does Colapinto and the Argentine gets more screen time than many of the active drivers, although Mercedes reserve driver Valtteri Bottas also very briefly appears.

However, Colapinto is spotted getting his hair and make-up done at one point and seen in his Alpine racing suit in another scene and is one of the most prominent drivers in the video.

Doohan is also seen posing in the clip and playing some of the Beat The Grid games, but tellingly, Colapinto is the only reserve driver out of any of the teams to feature.

It’s therefore surprising that Formula 1 and Alpine both agreed that he needed to take part in such a shoot when any other team doesn’t believe that it’s a priority in case they suddenly need to make a swap.

READ MORE: Who is Alpine F1 driver Jack Doohan? All to know from his girlfriend to dad

Jack Doohan impressed Alpine at the Australian Grand Prix despite first lap crash

Some of the comments under the video attest to the fact that Colapinto’s presence is slightly odd.

One fan said, “Colapinto is in this, even F1 themselves think he’ll replace Doohan,” while another commented, “Just as they made the intro with Colapinto in case it is needed, they should have also made one of Yuki in the Red Bull suit because it will also be needed.”

Another comment said, “Having Franco there is diabolical,” and this was followed up with another message that read, “Franco more screentime than Jack is diabolical!”

“Why does Franco Colapinto appear more in the video than other drivers?” read another comment which was followed up, “Colapinto feature is crazy foreshadowing.”

Doohan is said to be on a short-term contract at Alpine and from the outside didn’t do himself any favours at the Australian Grand Prix.

He was outqualified by Gasly and crashed out on the opening lap in tricky conditions.

However, Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes was impressed with Doohan despite his mistake in the race and he only went out in Q2 after being caught up in the yellow flags brought out by Lewis Hamilton’s spin.

Up to that point, he had a good chance of beating Gasly over one lap like he had in practice and while Colapinto is being prepped from a media point of view to potentially take his seat, Alpine have to be willing to give the Australian more time.