Flavio Briatore, the dynamic and outspoken executive advisor at Alpine F1, has emphatically stated he is “not a killer”, in the midst of uncertainty about the future of drivers Jack Doohan and Franco Colapinto within the team. Briatore has made it clear that his sole interest lies in securing the “best drivers possible” for the team.
Last year, during the Dutch Grand Prix, it was confirmed that Jack Doohan would join Pierre Gasly as his team-mate for the 2025 F1 season. Shortly after, Franco Colapinto stepped in for Logan Sargeant at Williams for the final nine races of 2024. Colapinto’s exceptional performances caught the attention of several teams, including Alpine, who subsequently offered him a position as a reserve driver for the 2025 season.
Doohan’s debut with Alpine was somewhat accelerated, taking place at the final race of last season in Abu Dhabi, due to Esteban Ocon’s early release from his contract. However, whispers within the industry suggest that Doohan’s contract only covers the initial rounds of the new season, which could potentially put him at risk of being replaced by Colapinto.
According to sources at PlanetF1.com, Doohan’s future with the Alpine F1 2025 campaign will be determined by his performance, a condition that applies to all drivers on the grid. Briatore, who returned to the team as an executive advisor last season, has been instrumental in guiding the Enstone-based team back to prominence.
In December, as reported by PlanetF1.com, Briatore assured fans that Doohan would commence the new season as Gasly’s team-mate. He did, however, caution that he would not hesitate to make adjustments if needed. In a recent update, Briatore reiterated his ambition to build the most formidable driver lineup to propel Alpine forward.
Spanish publication Marca reported Briatore saying that he is indifferent about who the best drivers are, whether it’s Colapinto, Doohan, or Paul Aron. He also denied claims that Doohan’s season will be limited to the first five races. He expressed his admiration for Gasly’s performance last year and highlighted the benefit of giving Doohan an additional race at Abu Dhabi.
Briatore, who has represented Fernando Alonso for 23 years, emphasized that he supports drivers who deliver on their promises. He also expressed his enthusiasm about Colapinto’s potential and underlined the importance of nurturing the 21-year-old’s talent. According to Mundo Deportivo, Briatore believes that with talent and proper management, success is guaranteed.
Doohan, on the other hand, has confirmed that he has been assured of Colapinto’s role as Alpine’s reserve driver for this season. Speaking at the Formula 1 season-launch event in London, he expressed that he is prepared for the intense pressure that comes with being one of the 20 Formula 1 drivers in the world. He also dismissed any feelings of being undermined by Colapinto’s presence within the team.
