Before the 2025 season even got a chance to start, rumours were already swirling around the Alpine garage. Jack Doohan, who was confirmed to race alongside Pierre Gasly, was never fully secure in his seat. Many believed he would only have a few races to prove himself before being replaced by highly-rated Argentine driver Franco Colapinto.

So far, Doohan has struggled to make a strong impression. In the first five races of the season, he has yet to score a single point. Although the Alpine car has shown occasional flashes of pace, it has mostly underperformed, and Doohan has been under constant pressure to prove he deserves the seat. For a while, it looked like the situation was calming down, with some reports suggesting the team was ready to give him more time to settle in and deliver results.

Then came an unexpected moment during a television appearance that reignited the speculation. Horacio Daniel Marín, the CEO of Argentine energy company YPF and one of Colapinto’s key backers, appeared on the news channel A24 for an interview with journalist Eduardo Feinmann. When asked directly about when Colapinto might make his debut for Alpine, Marín responded casually, saying he didn’t know.

The interview ended, and the show transitioned into its closing segment with music playing. However, the microphones were still live, and viewers at home clearly heard Marín quietly say, “in Imola.” The moment quickly spread across social media and motorsport news sites, fuelling talk that a switch could be just around the corner.

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This could be a significant hint. It suggests Colapinto might be getting ready to step into the Alpine car at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, which comes after Miami. That could mean Doohan’s last race for Alpine is approaching, or it might just be a one-off appearance in a practice session. Nothing has been officially confirmed, and plans could still change before the race weekend arrives.

Since Colapinto already has more than two Formula 1 starts under his belt from his time filling in at Williams, Alpine would not be ticking off the rookie driver requirement by running him. However, they are still fully allowed to give him track time if they wish.

For Colapinto, it could be an important step in building experience with the current car and preparing for a possible full-time role later in the season. For now, though, the only thing that’s clear is that Alpine’s second seat remains a hot topic in the paddock.