Formula 1 Emilia Romagna GP
Flavio Briatore denies Alpine’s five-race F1 plan for Franco Colapinto
Alpine announced Colapinto would race in the next five F1 races, but Briatore has just denied it
Ben Vinel
Edited: May 16, 2025, 5:13 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Alpine team leader Flavio Briatore has contradicted his own squad’s announcement that Franco Colapinto had been promoted to a race seat for the next five Formula 1 rounds from this weekend’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.
Alpine announced on 7 May that it was replacing Jack Doohan, who had failed to score a single point over the first six grands prix of the 2025 season, with reserve driver Colapinto for the next five races, switching their roles around.
Read Also:
The press release was very clear on this timeline, mentioning “the next five races” and “the next five rounds”, while Briatore was quoted as saying: “Having reviewed the opening races of the season, we have come to the decision to put Franco in the car alongside Pierre for the next five races. […] The next five races will give us an opportunity to try something different and after this time period we will assess our options.”
Now fully in charge of the Alpine F1 team after team principal Oliver Oakes resigned, Briatore has contradicted the statement released just nine days ago.
“I have to say, I also expected more from Jack Doohan – maybe he needs a break,” Briatore told Sky Italy in Imola.
“Franco will race as much as needed. I read somewhere that he’ll have five races, but no, there’s no set limit on his races. He needs to be fast, not crash, and score points. I’m only asking him these three things — not 10. If he does them well, he’ll drive forever.”
Luca de Meo, CEO of the Renault Group talks with Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
Briatore was also asked about Oakes’ departure and explained: “His resignation came after Miami due to a personal issue, and when it happened, I didn’t expect it either.
“This is a united team. There were rumours that I had argued with Oliver, but that’s not true — we have a great relationship.”
Read Also:
Though he is fully in charge of the Enstone-based squad, Briatore doesn’t hold any specific position or job title, with racing director Dave Greenwood assigned as team representative for administrative purposes.
“Nothing changes — the organisational chart has shifted a bit, but everything else stays the same.
“When it comes to the team principal role, I need to assess the situation… For now, I’m taking charge, but I’m used to that, it’s not my first day at school,” Briatore concluded on a light-hearted tone, having taken the outfit to world titles in the 1990s and 2000s as Benetton and Renault.
Additional reporting by Gianluca D’Alessandro
Photos from Emilia Romagna GP - Practice
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - Friday
Formula 1
51
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article McLaren opens up about secrets of Oscar Piastri's speed
Next article F1 Imola GP: McLaren gets 1-2 in red-flagged FP2
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Ben Vinel
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
Formula 1 9 h
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Toto Wolff reflects on Mercedes’ non-title years: ‘We weren’t complete losers’
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 d
Toto Wolff reflects on Mercedes’ non-title years: ‘We weren’t complete losers’
More from
Franco Colapinto
"Colapinto never hit the apex" – Audi's take on contentious Nico Hulkenberg penalty in Brazilian GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
2 d
"Colapinto never hit the apex" – Audi's take on contentious Nico Hulkenberg penalty in Brazilian GP
Pierre Gasly on Franco Colapinto fan pressure: “Once you deal with Helmut Marko, anything else is no pressure”
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
5 d
Pierre Gasly on Franco Colapinto fan pressure: “Once you deal with Helmut Marko, anything else is no pressure”
More from
Alpine
A fond farewell to a few WEC favourites
WEC
Monza
A fond farewell to a few WEC favourites
Alpine drivers penalised post-race, Ryo Hirakawa scores on F1 debut at Mexico GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
12 d
Alpine drivers penalised post-race, Ryo Hirakawa scores on F1 debut at Mexico GP
Franco Colapinto, George Russell to sit out FP1 at F1 Mexico GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
17 d
Franco Colapinto, George Russell to sit out FP1 at F1 Mexico GP
Latest news
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
4 h
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Homestead
5 h
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 9 h
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe