Alpine Driver Under Fire: Seat in Jeopardy?

Mounting pressure confronts **Franco Colapinto** at Alpine as his performance lags and public criticism grows, raising questions about his future with the team. The Argentinian driver faces a battle to retain his position amid speculation and potential replacements.

Doohan vs. Colapinto: Performance Analysis

Since replacing **Jack Doohan** post-Miami Grand Prix, **Colapinto** has struggled, achieving a best finish and qualifying position of 13th and 12th, respectively. **Doohan** also recorded a best finish of 13th during his stint, but his best qualifying position was slightly better at 11th.

Both drivers only out-qualified teammate **Pierre Gasly** once in their six races. **Gasly** earned six points when paired with **Doohan** and 13 alongside **Colapinto**, highlighted by a sixth-place finish at the British Grand Prix.

Qualifying gaps reveal **Doohan** averaged 0.287 seconds behind **Gasly**, whereas **Colapinto** averaged 0.302 seconds. Across ten qualifying sessions (including sprints), **Doohan** edged out **Gasly** four times, while **Colapinto** managed this only once in seven sessions.

On-Track Incidents and Pressure

**Colapinto’s** tenure has been punctuated by on-track incidents, including a significant qualifying crash at Imola and a controversial moment in Austria where he forced championship leader **Oscar Piastri** off-track while being lapped.

Look out, Franco!

Oscar Piastri is forced onto the grass by Colapinto 😰#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/EhgL70DnuJ

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 29, 2025

He also spun in qualifying at Silverstone, damaging his car and later retiring from the race after stalling in the pit lane. According to Autosport, pitlane stalls account for roughly 15% of all F1 race retirements, highlighting the pressure drivers face in these high-stakes moments (Autosport 2023).

Colapinto’s Response and Team Frustrations

Despite the speculation, **Colapinto** remains outwardly composed. Following his qualifying incident in Silverstone, he stated he was “not very concerned” about being replaced before the Belgian Grand Prix, acknowledging ongoing “talks.”

However, his reassurances contrast with the public frustrations voiced by Alpine executive advisor and interim team principal, **Flavio Briatore**. After the Silverstone qualifying crash, **Briatore** stated, “Franco, he knows he made a mistake and needs to improve and come back strongly in the race tomorrow.”

Earlier, after qualifying in Austria, **Briatore** lamented **Colapinto’s** performance, stating he was “too far away to reach Q3.” He had previously expressed stronger dissatisfaction after **Colapinto’s** early crash during his first race weekend.

Bottas as a Potential Replacement

The situation is further complicated by **Valtteri Bottas** emerging as a potential replacement. The experienced Finn has expressed a strong desire to return to a full-time race seat.

Reports suggest **Briatore** approached Mercedes regarding **Bottas’s** availability. Mercedes team principal **Toto Wolff** confirmed these discussions, saying, “I saw him [**Briatore**] today and we talked about **Valtteri**. It seems that the interest in **Valtteri** is increasing even more,” adding, “He deserves that seat.”

Given Alpine’s planned switch to Mercedes power units, a move for **Bottas** could provide valuable experience. However, when questioned, **Briatore** denied interest in **Bottas**, stating, “I have no such information, absolutely not,” and affirming confidence in their current drivers.

Controversial Decision to Demote Doohan

Alpine’s decision to demote **Doohan** sparked controversy. **Briatore** defended the move, calling it “a manager’s responsibility to make tough calls,” drawing parallels to promoting **Fernando Alonso** early in his career.

Since his demotion, **Doohan** has maintained a low profile, continuing as the team’s third driver. Following the Emilia Romagna weekend, he addressed online abuse directed at his family, asking people to “stop harassing my family” after fake posts surfaced.

Looking Ahead

As Alpine prepares for the Belgian Grand Prix, the focus remains on **Colapinto** to stabilize his performance and secure his seat. The pressure will intensify as the season progresses.