Flavio Briatore makes bizarre contradiction over Franco Colapinto

Flavio Briatore is attempting to perform an about-face on Alpine's decision to hand Franco Colapinto a prescribed five-round audition for Jack Doohan's seat at the team, in a strange and fascinating development.

The Italian has said there is "no limit" on the number of races the Argentine will be afforded by Team Enstone, a statement directly at odds with not only Alpine's own press release, but his own quote within it.

On 7 May, the day after team principal Oliver Oakes' shock resignation, the French squad confirmed Colapinto would replace Doohan for the next five rounds, starting this weekend at Imola, as it continues to weigh up who should partner Pierre Gasly.

"Having reviewed the opening races of the season, we have come to the decision to put Franco in the car alongside Pierre for the next five races," Briatore's quote in the press release read.

It concluded with: "The next five races will give us an opportunity to try something different and after this time period we will assess our options."

Whilst Oakes' departure has now been proven to be unrelated to that move, it was part of a chaotic few days for the team.

As the situation has died down, and with the current race weekend now in full swing, Briatore has yet again muddied the waters.

"It’s not that a driver gets 3 or 5 races, I too am disappointed with Doohan," the 75-year-old told Sky Italy at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. "I expected more from him, but maybe he needs a break.

"The team will decide how many races Colapinto will get, I have read that he would get 5 races, but there is no limit to how many races he will get."

When asked what the 21-year-old must show whilst in the race seat, Briatore replied: "That he will be fast, not crash and that he will take points. Those are the 3 things I ask of him, it’s not that I ask 10 things of him. If he meets those 3 things he will drive forever."

Alpine has confirmed that whilst Briatore has assumed Oakes' duties and therefore theoretically has the authority to make that decision, he is not team principal, with racing director Dave Greenwood assigned the team representative for administrative purposes.