Alpine has only a handful of days left to decide whether to sign Franco Colapinto for the 2025 season.
A surprising rumour circulating during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend suggests that the reason Alpine cut Esteban Ocon's contract short was to 'test' Jack Doohan, their planned driver for 2025, ahead of schedule.
According to speculation, team advisor Flavio Briatore is considering the highly-rated rookie from Argentina, Franco Colapinto. Red Bull is believed to have dismissed Colapinto as an option due to his recent series of crashes.
Despite this, Alpine could still be in the running for Colapinto's services, especially after Australian newcomer Jack Doohan qualified at the very back of the grid in Abu Dhabi.
"If Red Bull or Alpine don't want him by mid-December, he will stay with us as reserve driver in 2025," Williams boss James Vowles, who holds a strong contractual position over the 21-year-old, told the Swiss publication Blick.
"We are still open to all discussions," Vowles added. "Whether it's about two, three or four years, everything has its price."
