Colapinto joins Alpine as Plan B to Doohan: Briatore’s strategy

The surprising move of Franco Colapinto to Alpine from Williams yesterday sent shockwaves through the paddock. But what’s behind Briatore’s decision?

An old saying goes, “Prevention is better than cure,” and that seems to perfectly capture the strategy employed by Flavio Briatore, Luca De Meo, and Oliver Oakes yesterday. Colapinto’s transfer to Alpine marks the first major breaking news of 2025, shaking up the grid once again after a dramatic reshuffle last autumn. This unexpected announcement raises several questions for the upcoming season: Can Colapinto wrestle the seat away from Doohan? Will Jack be able to defend his position? And most importantly, why did Briatore make this move?

Looking back over recent months, Alpine’s courtship of Colapinto and Briatore’s glowing remarks about him were far from subtle. The Italian businessman had openly expressed his disbelief when Liam Lawson joined Red Bull, taking over Sergio Perez’s seat, instead of the Italian-Argentine driver, whom he had called “a talent” and who had also been on Helmut Marko’s radar.

Briatore’s belief in Colapinto: “Our eyes are on the future”

Briatore, clearly captivated by Franco, commented yesterday on the arrival of the former Williams driver at Enstone, who was also thanked a few hours earlier by James Vowles:
“We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with Williams for the signing of Franco Colapinto. It is clear that Franco is one of the best young talents in motorsport right now. It’s fair to say that his debut on the Formula 1 grid last year surprised many, myself included, and his performances were truly impressive for a rookie driver.”

“We have our eyes on the future, and his signing gives us a solid lineup of young drivers to draw from and develop the team for future success,” Briatore added. This repeated emphasis on the word “future” raises suspicions, as if something inevitable is already in motion. Naturally, rookie Jack Doohan, who replaced Esteban Ocon in the final race of the 2024 season, is the first to feel the pressure. Ocon has since moved to Haas in America, leaving Doohan with a seat to defend.

Is Colapinto simply a contingency plan? A safety net? Or has Briatore admitted that his choice of Doohan—a potentially too inexperienced and not as fast driver—was a mistake? It’s hard to say, but this move was undoubtedly calculated. For now, Doohan holds the wheel while Colapinto waits in the garage, brimming with untapped potential. All eyes remain on the future, one that’s still uncertain yet seems closer than it appears. After all, prevention just might be better than cure.

Photo: BWT Alpine F1 Team, Williams Racing