Alpine has announced that Jack Doohan will make his Formula One debut this weekend in Abu Dhabi, replacing Esteban Ocon.
It emerged on Sunday night after the Qatar Grand Prix that talks were ongoing for Alpine reserve driver Doohan to replace Ocon, who had signed for Haas in 2025, one race earlier than planned in Abu Dhabi.
This came amid a desire from Ocon to take part in the post-season test with Haas on the Tuesday after the race in Abu Dhabi to help him acclimate to the team and get ahead of schedule for 2025.
In order to be released from his contract that ran until the end of the year and take part in the test, Ocon was required to step down from his set for the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.
The news was confirmed by Alpine on Monday morning, handing Doohan an early grand prix debut before he races full-time with the team next year.
“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,” a statement from Alpine read.
“The change allows Esteban to be released to Haas to drive in the post-season test in Abu Dhabi.”
Doohan will race with #61 in Abu Dhabi, the team’s registered reserve driver number, before switching to #7 when he races full-time next season alongside Pierre Gasly.
Doohan’s F1 debut comes off the back of an extensive private testing program with Alpine through 2024. The 21-year-old Australian finished third in last year’s Formula Two championship before focusing on his F1 reserve duties through this year.
Speaking on Sunday night in Qatar before a deal had been finalized, Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes said it is “never easy to judge” a young driver stepping into an F1 race weekend at late notice, and that Doohan would have to “take it as he finds it.”
“I think he’s professional enough to handle it,” Oakes said. “I think as well, once you ease into the weekend, FP1, FP2, you can build up to it as well.”
Oakes added: “He’s been with me quite a bit in the garage, he’s listened to the intercom of me and Flav (Briatore, Alpine’s executive advisor) giving his two pennies as well. I’m sure he’s ready for it.”
Doohan will bid to help Alpine beat Ocon’s future team, Haas, to sixth place in the constructors’ championship after moving back ahead thanks to Gasly’s fifth-place finish in Qatar.
Alpine currently leads Haas by five points, having shot up the table thanks to Ocon and Gasly’s double-podium finish in Brazil. Each championship position is worth in the region of $12-15 million in extra prize money.
Alpine announced in August that Doohan would replace Ocon for 2025 after mutually agreeing to part ways with the Frenchman in June, leading him to sign a multi-year deal with Haas.
Ocon’s exit means that his five-season stint at the team ends with a first-lap retirement in Qatar, having enjoyed highs including its sole grand prix win under the Alpine brand at Hungary in 2021.
“The team would like to thank Esteban for his time at the team and he will remain part of the team’s history achieving the first win for Alpine in Formula One,” the team said in the statement. “We wish Esteban the best for the future.”
(Kym Illman/Getty Images)
