Briatore swaps Doohan for Colapinto: A radical F1 move!

Briatore swaps Doohan for Colapinto: A radical F1 move!

Flavio Briatore recently took the helm as Alpine's new team boss after Oliver Oakes announced his retirement following the Miami Grand Prix. In his new role, Briatore made a striking driver swap: Jack Doohan was replaced by Franco Colapinto after just five races. In an interview, Briatore explained the reasons for this change and expressed his discomfort with the performances of Doohan, who failed to score any points in his five races.

Briatore emphasized that it was crucial to select the “best possible driver for the car.” According to him, it is necessary to establish a clear leadership structure in the team: “It takes a dictator to take responsibility.” Briatore's decision was strengthened by Colapinto's first race at Imola, where he finished 16th, finishing just two seconds behind teammate Pierre Gasly.

The decision for Colapinto

According to Alpine, integrating Franco Colapinto was worth considering for the team. Briatore explained that Colapinto will sit in the car alongside Gasly for the next five races. When asked if this was a long-term decision, Briatore clarified that the final determination would depend on the new driver's performance. This shows the pressure on the team, especially in a season where the playing field is tighter than ever.

In order to survive in the extremely competitive Formula 1, it is crucial for Alpine to have two competitive cars. Briatore has a clear expectation that Colapinto will provide the team with the support needed to achieve better results.

A look at the future of Formula 1

The next Formula 1 season in 2025 is viewed as a transition period. Teams' cars will be closer together and many squads are already turning their focus to developments for 2026. The start of the season promises intense racing as teams look to be competitive from the start. If performance is poor, this could even result in a quick switch to savings mode, as experts expect.

While Alpine faces its challenges, there is a lot of speculation surrounding other teams and drivers, such as Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari. Hamilton could face a politically complex environment this season in which he will have to compete against Charles Leclerc, who is one of the best qualifying experts. In such a dynamic situation, the ability to position oneself strategically will be crucial to remain competitive.

From a sociological point of view, the teams are faced with the challenge of keeping not only technological but also interpersonal dynamics optimally under control.

Overall, the development at Alpine and across the league sets the bar high for driver changes and team strategy in this crucial phase of Formula 1.

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