Alpine team boss Oliver Oakes has dismissed rumors that Franco Colapinto will replace Jack Doohan from the GP Emilia-Romagna onwards. The rumors started circulating after a sponsor of Colapinto misspoke in an interview. “I’m sure there are many people in Argentina who would like to see him in the car this Sunday,” said Oakes.
Jack Doohan has been on thin ice since his debut with Alpine, due to the presence of reserve driver Franco Colapinto. The Australian finally gets to drive full-time for the French racing team this year, but rumors have been swirling since January, when Alpine contracted Colapinto as a reserve driver, that Doohan’s time in Formula 1 is limited. Horacio Marín, CEO of oil company YPF and sponsor of Colapinto, added fuel to the fire with a slip of the tongue this week.
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During an interview with La Nación+, when he thought the cameras were off, the CEO said that Colapinto will make his debut during the GP Emilia-Romagna. Marín later retracted his statement. Alpine team boss Oliver Oakes was asked about the incident in Miami and advised taking it with a grain of salt.
“I saw it just like everyone else. I think it was just a sponsor from Argentina expressing his opinion off-camera about when Franco will be in the car. I’m sure there are many people in Argentina who would like to see him in the car this Sunday,” Oakes explains. “I think we as a team have been quite open and this is just noise from outside. Jack needs to keep doing his job well, but I think it’s logical that there are always speculations.”
The team boss concludes with reassuring words for Doohan. “As it stands now, Jack is our driver, along with Pierre Gasly. I think we’ve been quite clear about that. I mean, we always evaluate. But yes, today that is the case.”
