Flavio Briatore has just done something during Franco Colapinto’s first Alpine test that will worry Jack Doohan

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The 2024 Formula 1 driver’s market was one of the busiest in the sport’s history and even though the 2025 season doesn’t start for over a month, there’s already one team potentially considering a change.

Alpine ended the 2024 campaign with a flurry of strong results including a remarkable double-podium finish at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

It meant the Anglo-French outfit finished sixth in the constructors’ championship when for a long time it looked like they would only beat Sauber.

By that point, they already knew that they would be changing their driver pairing for 2025.

Pierre Gasly would be retained and managed to finish in the top 10 of the driver’s standings after scoring points in four out of the last five races.

However, Esteban Ocon was allowed to leave to join Haas and in his place, reserve driver Jack Doohan stepped up.

Doohan had a difficult debut in Abu Dhabi and while little was expected of him, the pressure immediately ramped up on his race seat during the winter break.

Alpine have gone on a signing spree of drivers, bringing in Paul Aron and Ryo Hirakawa.

More importantly, Franco Colapinto has been signed from Williams and his exciting start to life as a Formula 1 driver last year may threaten Doohan’s race seat immediately.

Franco Colapinto takes part in his first Formula 1 test as an Alpine driver

It’s become common knowledge that Doohan only has a short-term contract for 2025 and he could be replaced even before the summer break.

It means that Alpine will want Colapinto to be as ready as he can be should they decide to demote the Australian if his performances aren’t up to scratch.

Doohan took part in a TPC test in Barcelona this week, although Alpine deliberately kept as many of the details about that run a secret.

However, on Wednesday, he gave up the car to give Colapinto his first taste of action in an Alpine.

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

Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s executive advisor, posted on his Instagram story and shared a video of Colapinto hopping out of one of Alpine’s old Formula 1 cars after taking part in a TPC test at the home of the Spanish Grand Prix.

He used the hashtag #barcelonatest and tagged Colapinto, however, Briatore didn’t say anything about Doohan’s test the day before.

Briatore has been happy to post about Colapinto ever since he signed for the team but has never been particularly vocal about Doohan.

It wouldn’t be a surprise knowing his history in F1 if he’s already plotting an early swap between his drivers.

Jack Doohan is under immediate pressure at Alpine with Franco Colapinto threat looming

Many people in the paddock believe Doohan was promoted by Alpine for non-sporting reasons, which is very harsh on the 22-year-old but fits in with how Briatore has always operated his teams.

He’s constantly on the lookout for the best talents and a deal, as many drivers in his previous role at Benetton in the 1990s could attest to.

Briatore infamously signed Michael Schumacher from Jordan after just one Grand Prix, a decision that led to the German winning his first two drivers’ championships with the team.

READ MORE: Who is Alpine’s F1 executive adviser Flavio Briatore? Everything to know

Neither Doohan nor Colapinto are at that level, but the Argentine importantly brings a huge fanbase and plenty of sponsorship with him to Alpine.

If Doohan isn’t performing, even if Colapinto isn’t an immediate upgrade on the track, financially it might be more beneficial to have him in the car.
Doohan has frequently impressed in private Alpine tests, but he now needs to quickly convert that into results when the season starts to avoid being the first casualty on the 2025 grid.