Flavio Briatore doesn’t mince words. When he was asked in a recent interview if Alpine’s driver lineup for 2025 is set in stone, he simply replied “The only certain thing is death”.
Brutal honesty has always been his style and it’s clear he expects results.
Alpine will start the season with Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan, but that’s no guarantee they’ll finish it together. “We start the year with Pierre and Jack, I guarantee it. After that, we’ll see during the season,” Briatore told Le Parisien.
Jack Doohan, the rookie Australian driver stepping into his first full Formula 1 campaign, is especially under the microscope. After a single race in Abu Dhabi last year, he now faces the challenge to prove he deserves his seat.
“The driver is the one who has to finish the work of the almost one thousand people behind him,” Briatore explained. “If there is a driver who is not making progress, who is not bringing results, he will be changed.”
Gasly, with his solid performances in 2024, likely isn’t the focus of Briatore’s warning. That leaves Doohan in a precarious position.
Franco Colapinto, meanwhile, might be an intriguing prospect for the team. The young Argentine made a big impression during his nine-race stint with Williams last year. And Briatore has taken notice. “I’m interested in any driver who is fast. Colapinto surprised everyone” he admitted.
Colapinto is not currently part of Alpine’s plans, but that could obviously change. “If there was an opportunity to get Colapinto for 2026, you have to think about it,” Briatore said.
Should Doohan struggle, Briatore has options.
Paul Aron, the team’s reserve driver is an F2 race winner and could step in as a cost-effective solution as well. But Colapinto remains the more exciting option. At least for now. A mid-season move would require a buyout, but Alpine may consider it if the circumstances demand bold action.
The driver market for 2026 adds even more possibilities. Yuki Tsunoda has given a few hints he might want to switch teams. And veterans like Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez could be tempted by a return to Formula 1 if the right seat opens up.
For Doohan, the stakes couldn’t be higher. He has talent, but talent needs results to survive in this sport. Alpine isn’t a team that tolerates mediocrity, especially with someone as ruthless as Briatore overseeing the operation.
Briatore’s philosophy is simple: perform or you’ll be replaced. That’s Formula 1 at its core, and for Doohan, it’s the harsh reality he faces in 2025. The question isn’t whether Briatore will act—it’s when.
In Formula 1, no one is safe. Especially not under Flavio Briatore.
