Alpine team leader Flavio Briatore has contradicted his own squad’s announcement that Franco Colapinto had been promoted to a race seat for the next five Formula 1 rounds from this weekend’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.

Franco Colapinto says replacing another Formula 1 driver during the season are “never nice circumstances” and he doesn’t believe his five-race deal with Alpine is long enough. After Australian rookie Jack Doohan was dropped amid wider upheaval at Alpine,

After months of rumors swirling around Alpine, the team announced Wednesday that Franco Colapinto will replace Jack Doohan at the team starting at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, Italy, on May 18.