Aussie racing driver Jack Doohan will make his Formula One debut for Alpine in this weekend’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
News had filtered through on Sunday that he would be replacing Esteban Ocon on the grid for the final race of the season, but the news was officially confirmed by Alpine on Monday morning.
It came as Ocon, who signed for Haas in July, agreed a deal to end his season with Alpine a race early. It brings to an end his five-year stay at the Formula One team, with the 28-year-old set to join up with young British star Ollie Bearman at the American racing outfit for 2025.
The Frenchman appears to have been granted permission by the Oxfordshire-based Formula One side to end his season early, in order to join up with Haas for a test event after this weekend’s race.
Sky Sports pit-lane reporter Ted Kravitz had broken the news after the Qatar Grand Prix but on Monday, Alpine officially confirmed the news in a statement.
A spokesperson for the Formula One outfit wrote: ‘BWT Alpine Formula One Team announces that reserve driver Jack Doohan will race in the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in place of Esteban Ocon.
Aussie racing driver Jack Doohan is set to replace Esteban Ocon for the final race of the F1 season
It comes as Ocon (right) is due to join up with Haas, his new team for 2025, for their post-season test event. Doohan (left) will stepp into the Alpine car for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
‘The change allows Esteban to be released to Haas to drive in the post-season Test in Abu Dhabi.’
Doohan, 21, will also now succeed Ocon as Alpine’s new driver for the upcoming season and will pair up with Pierre Gasly.
Alpine had confirmed the Queenslander would be replacing Ocon back in August, with Doohan having spoken of his elation at the news.
‘I am so happy to secure promotion into a full-time race seat in 2025 with BWT Alpine F1 Team. I am very grateful for the trust and belief by the team’s senior management,’ the Aussie said.
‘There is so much work ahead to be prepared and ready and I will give my best in the meantime to absorb as much information and knowledge to be ready for the step up.
‘It’s exceptionally satisfying to be the first graduate of the Alpine Academy to be in a race seat with the team and I’m extremely thankful to those who supported me along the way to make this a reality.
‘It’s an exciting moment, a proud day for my family, and I look forward to taking it all in and pushing hard behind the scenes.’
Doohan, a product of the Red Bull Junior Team, joined up with Alpine’s academy in 2022 and had been close to gaining a seat at the French outfit last year had it not been for Pierre Gasly’s arrival.
Doohan, who hails from the Gold Coast, will succeed Ocon in Alpine’s second seat next season
Ocon finished his time at Alpine on a sour note, after he crashed out of the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday during his first lap
He was subsequently announced as Alpine’s reserve driver for the 2024 season, before being handed his first seat in the premier driving circuit for 2025.
Motorsport appears to also run in his family, with his father Mick being a five-time 500cc motorcycle world champion.
Ocon, meanwhile, ended his time at Alpine on a sour note, after he crashed out of the Qatar Grand Prix during the opening lap.
‘It was wrong place, wrong time I think. Racing incident unfortunately,’ he said on the moment.
‘Unfortunately it’s an incident and a short race for us. Not something that we wanted, but I would like to thank the team for their hard work over this race and their hard work over the whole year.
‘When it’s going well, it’s good to stick together.
‘But when it’s not going so well the engineers and the mechanics stick together and that’s the most important thing.
‘I passed already Franco. I was on the left side of Nico. He was on the hard [tyre] so it was always going to be something like this, but unfortunately a short one for us.
‘It was wrong place, wrong time I think. Racing incident unfortunately,’ Ocon said on his crash
‘It’s important to look ahead and see what we can prepare for the future.’
Despite that, Alpine took to social media to pay their thanks to Ocon after his final race for the team.
They wrote on X: ‘Thank you, Esteban.
’We’ve shared some special memories together and wish you all the best for your next chapter.’
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