"Poor Jack Doohan": Fans react as Franco Colapinto signs with Alpine on a multi-year contract

F1 fans were left in shock after Franco Colapinto signed with the Alpine team on a multi-year contract ahead of the 2025 season as their reserve and test driver. The Argentine had managed to impress several teams with his short stint with the Williams F1 team at the back end of the 2024 season.

Replacing Logan Sargeant at the Grove-based team, Colapinto was quickly on pace with the more experienced Alex Albon and pushed the latter in both qualifying and the races.

However, he tailed off a little in the final few races of the season due to his multiple crashes, which led to teams losing interest in him. Alpine announced the 21-year-old as their new reserve and test driver after they promoted Jack Doohan to a full-time seat alongside Pierre Gasly in 2025.

F1 fans took to social media to give their reactions to Franco Colapinto joining Alpine on X, with one fan claiming that it was not positive news for Jack Doohan, saying:

"Poor Doohan."

"Terrible news for Jack Doohan."

"Poohan is losing his seat soon."

"Oh shoot, will they actually get rid of Jack after just a couple of races?" asked a fan.

"Jack Doohan needs to get away from that shit team," claimed another.

"Aron-Franco in 2026. Gasly goes to Cadillac reunited with Yuki," said another.

Franco Colapinto gives his take on joining Alpine in 2025

Franco Colapinto stated that he was excited to join the Alpine team in the 2025 season and expressed his gratitude to Williams F1 for helping him in his racing journey.

Speaking with F1.com, the Argentine said:

“I am super excited to have the opportunity to join BWT Alpine Formula One Team. First of all, I want to say thank you to Williams for all their support from the moment I joined the Academy until the last race in Abu Dhabi. They turned my dream of racing in Formula One into reality, and I will always be grateful for that.

"Now, it is time for a new chapter, and to take on this challenge with BWT Alpine Formula One Team is truly an honor. A huge thank you to Luca [de Meo], Flavio [Briatore] ,and Oliver [Oakes] for believing in me and welcoming me into the team with open arms. I cannot wait to get started and see where this journey takes us." he said.

There has been speculation that Jack Doohan has only got five races to stamp his authority on his seat alongside Gasly and if he failed, the Argentine mid-season would replace him.

Despite his lack of experience, the Aussie finished ahead of Franco Colapinto in the season finale in Abu Dhabi last month, coming home B15 while the Argentine was unable to finish the race.