Six-podium Formula 1 team risk ‘horrible’ PR ‘fallout’ if they hire one driver for 2025

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RB are the only team who haven’t officially confirmed their driver line-up for 2025. They took up the option to extend Yuki Tsunoda’s deal, but the seat next to him remains vacant.

Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen are both under contract for next year. But Red Bull are considering whether to sack Perez after his woeful 2024 showings.

This has left RB in limbo as the season enters its final month. If Perez loses his seat, Liam Lawson will be the favourite to replace him.

Should the Mexican stay – and Perez’s contract may help him survive the winter – then the simple solution would be to retain Lawson alongside Tsunoda. F2 title contender and Red Bull academy driver Isack Hadjar is Lawson’s ‘biggest fan’ as he hopes for an opening at the junior team.

However, Red Bull have doubts about Hadjar and are looking to sign Franco Colapinto instead. Colapinto could slot into RB next to Tsunoda, but they aren’t the only team interested.

Alpine could face backlash if they drop Jack Doohan for Franco Colapinto

Alpine are also keen on Colapinto, which has surprised many in the world of F1. They’ve already re-signed Pierre Gasly and promoted Jack Doohan to replace the Haas-bound Esteban Ocon.

F1 Oversteer understands that Alpine could offer Doohan to Williams, along with cash, in exchange for Colapinto. Flavio Briatore has clearly been hugely impressed by the 21-year-old since he broke into F1 at the expense of Logan Sargeant.

Reports elsewhere claim Doohan only has a contract for the first five races. If that’s the case, Alpine could theoretically drop him for Colapinto after Saudi Arabia depending on his performance levels.

But speaking on ESPN’s Unlapped podcast, Nate Saunders suggested that Colapinto would more likely be an option for 2026. Alpine understand the reputational damage they could suffer if they don’t give Doohan a fair opportunity.

“All of these teams are talking about bringing Colapinto in as a reserve driver, as a junior driver, maybe with a view to bringing him in ’26,” Saunders said. “You want him as part of your stable. If you get rid of Doohan and put Colapinto in, the PR fallout of that is horrible.”

The testing setback that came at the worst time for Jack Doohan

While three other rookies will make full-time debuts next year, Doohan will be under unique pressure given recent stories. It seems Alpine aren’t fully convinced by him and simply signed him because they were even less enamoured by the alternatives.

Alpine apparently used Pierre Gasly as a benchmark for Doohan in a recent test. They confirmed his arrival in late August, just days before Colapinto started his stint at Williams.

Ideally, James Vowles would keep the 21-year-old as a candidate for the future. But with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz committed for multiple years, he’s wary of blocking Colapinto’s path long-term.

Needing a smooth run as he carried out a 2026 tyre test, Doohan encountered a technical issue. That limited his running and denied him an opportunity to reassure Alpine and his fans.