What Alpine have just done with Pierre Gasly that confirms they have doubts over Jack Doohan

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With just three Grand Prix remaining this season and only one unconfirmed seat on the Formula 1 grid for the 2025 season, the driver’s market should in theory be beginning to calm down.

However, nothing is ever that straightforward in F1 and the future of Williams rookie Franco Colapinto has thrown a spanner into the works.

When Logan Sargeant was dropped after a disastrous race at Zandvoort, expectations weren’t high for the relatively unknown Argentinian who has having a decent but unspectacular debut campaign in Formula 2.

Colapinto has outperformed all the expectations on him and turned a few heads in the paddock.

Four teams were reportedly interested in Colapinto for 2025 given Williams didn’t have space for the 21-year-old, however, Sauber have now filled their second seat with Gabriel Bortoleto.

Red Bull are keen on Colapinto given Sergio Perez’s struggles and their continued patience in confirming which team Liam Lawson will turn out for next year.

However, Alpine are also interested in Colapinto despite having already confirmed their two drivers for 2025.

Pierre Gasly has been retained by Alpine for at least another year and he’ll be joined by rookie Jack Doohan.

A report from Motorsport suggests that doubts may be creeping in about the Australian before he even sets foot on the grid.

Pierre Gasly tested alongside Jack Doohan amid Alpine interest in Franco Colapinto

With just three races to go, Alpine now have a lead over RB and Haas to protect in the Constructors’ Championship that could earn them millions in prize money they weren’t expecting before the last race.

Attention would have already turned to 2025 at the factory to try and avoid another midfield scrap.

However, Alpine ran a TPC (Testing Previous Cars) in their 2022 car nearly two weeks ago, something they’ve been doing regularly to get Doohan up to speed as much as possible.

READ MORE: Who is 2025 Alpine F1 driver Jack Doohan? Everything you need to know

The test was intended for Doohan and junior driver Victor Martins but Alpine invited Gasly to take part alongside his less experienced teammates.

It is believed that Gasly’s ‘surprising’ presence at the test was because the team wanted his feedback on Doohan’s performance.

Having raced head-to-head against Colapinto in recent weeks, he could give his bosses a better indication of how Doohan currently compares.

Why Flavio Briatore might want to swap Jack Doohan for Franco Colapinto before the 2025 F1 season

Doohan has the distinct disadvantage of never having raced in Formula 1, making it very hard for Gasly to compare him to Colapinto.

He’s tested older Alpine F1 cars extensively this year and his simulator work has been invaluable.

Gasly credited Doohan for his help at the Dutch Grand Prix, but there’s a difference between an elite sim driver and an elite racing driver.

Flavio Briatore has control over Alpine’s driver pairing after being brought in by Luca de Meo.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Williams driver Franco Colapinto with praise to stats

There’s been a suggestion that Briatore hired Doohan for commercial reasons as he’s also part of the Australian’s management team.

If that is the case, then Colapinto will leapfrog Doohan in his thinking as the Argentinian has proven during his short stay on the grid just how popular he is with both fans and sponsors.