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Jack Doohan doesn’t get a mention as Flavio Briatore reveals that Alpine’s second driver in 2026 will either be Franco Colapinto or Paul Aron.
Since replacing Doohan, who was dropped after 6 races – four more than Liam Lawson was given at Red Bull – Colapinto has proved to be a bit of a damp squib.
Granted, the Alpine is the worst car on the grid by far, but nonetheless the Colapinto we have witnessed thus far is not the same guy that took the paddock by storm with Williams last year when he replaced Logan Sargeant, but rather the somewhat hapless version involved in numerous incidents later in the season.
Aron, a former member of the Mercedes Junior Team and third in the 2024 F2 championship, signed as reserve driver for Alpine in November last year and has taken part in two FP1 sessions, one with the French team the other with Sauber (Hungary).
Speaking to The Race, Briatore said the choice is between these two drivers.
“It’s between Franco and Paul,” he said. “Paul is a very nice guy, a very quick driver as well. And I need to understand what is the best for the team, you know?”
The Italian is adamant that the choice will be based purely on performance.
“I mean, I don’t have any interest with anybody,” he said. “Before the people were driving me mad, complaining because I was managing 50% of the drivers. Now, I don’t manage anybody.
“I don’t care,” he insisted. “I don’t have any interest. My only interest is to try to take in the team the best driver available and do the best job with us. It is as simple as that.
“I need another one or two races to see, but honestly today I don’t know which one.”
Other than slamming the door on Doohan, Briatore’s comments appear to rule out the idea of looking elsewhere along the pitlane, say at Yuki Tsunoda or Liam Lawson.
“I don’t see any other possibility,” said Briatore. “We see other ones, but we don’t feel anything… the good guys go ‘boom’. I remember when Schumi was in Group C with Sauber, he won every race…
“GP2 was the same,” he continued. “Hamilton was bam, bam, bam… Fernando was driving Formula 3000 or whatever and he was winning every race.
“I remember testing Fernando. I put Fernando in Minardi and Giancarlo called me and said: ‘I have never seen stuff like that’. Now, take away Max. The rest?”
