A major sponsor of Franco Colapinto has rapidly backtracked after inadvertently suggesting that the young Argentine driver would replace Jack Doohan at Alpine for the Imola Grand Prix.
Horacio Marin, president of YPF, one of Colapinto's key backers and Argentina's state-owned oil giant, appeared on local broadcaster A24 earlier this week. When asked when the 21-year-old reserve driver would take Doohan's race seat, Marin deflected with a laugh, saying, "I can't tell you that."
However, as the interview concluded with music and an end-screen, Marin, believing his microphone was off, was overheard muttering to the interviewer, "In Imola."
The clip quickly went viral, fueling speculation about an imminent driver swap - and the imminent end to Doohan's 2025 season.
Prompted by the widespread attention, Marin clarified his remarks in a follow-up appearance on Argentine broadcaster LN Mas.
"What I'm saying is that I hope he races in Imola," he explained. "And if that happens, he'll call me."
Marin firmly denied having insider knowledge about Colapinto's racing schedule, despite the likelihood that YPF would be heavily involved in plans for a debut at Imola, set for May 16-18. "How am I supposed to get the information if I'm the president of YPF, not Colapinto's representative?" he protested.
"I have an extraordinary relationship with him, but I'm not talking to him all day."
Marin revealed that he had made a similar offhand prediction last year, before Colapinto's mid-season debut with Williams, replacing Logan Sargeant.
"When I saw Franco, I told him he was going to debut in two weeks," Marin said. "I told him the guy over there (Sargeant) was going to get distracted and break his car, and they were going to call him. Later he came to me and asked how I knew," he laughed.
"I wish I had bought a lottery ticket as well and won a lot of money. This is the same thing."
