Alpine F1’s Bold Move: Four Reserve Drivers, One Clear Vision

Why Alpine F1 Is Stockpiling Reserve Drivers for the Future

Alpine F1’s strategy shifts with four reserve drivers, securing long-term options in a fast-changing market. Oakes explains the bold decision.

Alpine F1 team director Oliver Oakes has addressed the unusual decision to sign four reserve drivers for the 2025 season, emphasizing the team’s strategy to secure future talent.

Ahead of the Formula 1 season opener in Australia, Alpine confirmed Kush Maini as their fourth reserve driver, joining Paul Aron, Ryo Hirakawa, and Franco Colapinto, who had been previously announced.

Oakes explained that this move is part of Alpine’s long-term vision, particularly in response to shifts in the driver market. He pointed to McLaren’s recent decision to extend Oscar Piastri’s contract—three years after controversially signing him away from Alpine’s junior program—as an example of how teams are locking in their future stars early.

“Paul was already in our pipeline, and when the opportunity with Franco came up, it also made sense from a forward-thinking perspective. We’ve seen how McLaren has committed strongly to Oscar. The driver market is always evolving, and for us, it was important to have solid long-term options,” Oakes stated.

Alpine’s decision to bring in Colapinto also comes amid speculation, fueled by executive advisor Flavio Briatore, about a potential promotion for him at the expense of Jack Doohan.

Oakes acknowledged the growing noise around Doohan’s future, with figures like Red Bull’s Dr. Helmut Marko publicly suggesting that Alpine could replace him before the end of the season. However, Oakes reassured that both of the team’s current drivers remain fully supported.

“Obviously, Franco has a strong fan base, and Paul has been exceptional in F2. He has also impressed in previous F1 test sessions, which makes him an exciting option for us.”

“We need reserve drivers. They play a crucial role in previous-generation car testing, simulator work, and more. Of course, as a racing driver, you don’t necessarily want someone breathing down your neck, but from the team’s perspective, we’ve made it clear that both Jack and Pierre [Gasly] have our full backing.”

Oakes admitted that having so many reserve drivers has inevitably led to speculation about Doohan’s position within the team.

“I might have been a bit too encouraging, saying he just needed time to settle. We’ve put him in this situation by bringing in multiple reserve drivers, but at the same time, it gives us more flexibility as a team.”

Despite the outside pressure, Oakes praised Doohan’s performance in pre-season testing.

“He did a solid job in Bahrain and was impressive from the start here in Melbourne. You can see his confidence growing, and that’s crucial because for young drivers, it’s not easy. A couple of early mistakes can really set you back.”

“We’ve told him to keep his head down and enjoy the process. The first race weekend comes at you fast, and the key is to stay composed.”

“But he had a great start, which is exactly what we want to see from a young driver. It’s about mastering the basics, showing steady progress. He’s been holding his own against Pierre so far, and at the end of the day, your first benchmark is always your teammate.”