Alpine Racing is considering replacing driver Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto for the next Formula One race at Imola, Italy, ESPN reported on Monday.
Colapinto, 21, signed with Alpine as a reserve in January. The Argentine’s name routinely has been considered as a replacement for Doohan, who has struggled in six races during his rookie season.
Per the report, Horacio Marin, CEO of the Argentina energy company YPF, was caught off-microphone in a recent interview saying Colapinto would be in the car for the May 18 race in Italy.
Speculation has been rampant given Doohan’s poor start, including a first-lap crash at the Australian Grand Prix on March 16 and four penalty points at the Chinese Grand Prix a week later. The 22-year-old Australian also crashed in the second free practice session ahead of the April 6 Japanese Grand Prix.
Doohan, however, kept his spirits up after an opening-lap incident with Liam Lawson at the Miami Grand Prix.
“As we all know, nothing would be intentional,” Doohan said. “Unfortunately, he got squeezed there. I don’t know, maybe he had a car on his outside. We just have to look into it because it didn’t end well for me and I don’t think it helped him out as well.
“We’ve just got to keep our heads up. Looking forward to Imola now.”
–Field Level Media
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