Alpine and Esteban Ocon have mutually decided to end their partnership. The Frenchman will step aside to allow Jack Doohan to make his F1 debut.
Alpine announces major driver changes for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Esteban Ocon will step aside to allow Jack Doohan to make his Formula 1 debut. Ocon has signed a contract with Haas for the 2025 season and will drive a Haas car in post-season testing. This early swap benefited both drivers: Ocon gained valuable experience with the new team, while Doohan got a head start on his Alpine career. Doohan will team up with Pierre Gasly in Abu Dhabi to lay the foundations of their 2025 squad. Ocon’s decision comes after a challenging period despite his recent podium finishes. Alpine and Ocon agreed to accelerate their 2025 plans, allowing for early releases and driver swaps. Doohan’s debut in Abu Dhabi provides a valuable opportunity to showcase his talents and adapt to the demands of Formula One. This early exposure was crucial to his development as an Alpine rider.
Also read: F1 champion Lewis Hamilton takes to the skies in fighter jet for astronaut training
A statement from Alpine read: “BWT Alpine Formula 1 Team announces that reserve driver Jack Doohan will replace Esteban Ocon at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. This A change allowed Esteban to be released to Haas for post-season testing in Abu Dhabi. Jack has been announced as the official driver for the 2025 season alongside Pierre Gasly, who will drive the 61. # races as his registered reserve driver number and will take part in the team’s end-of-season testing circuit at Yas Marina.
Also read: F1 Qatar Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins as Ferrari and McLaren battle to Abu Dhabi
“The team would like to thank Esteban for his time with the team and he will continue to be part of the team’s history, giving Alpine its first victory in Formula 1. We wish Esteban all the best for the future.”
About Jack Doohan
Former Red Bull Junior Team member Jack Doohan has become the first Alpine Academy driver to compete in Formula 1 with the French team. The 21-year-old Australian driver joins the Alpine Academy in 2022 and has had an outstanding junior career, finishing runner-up in the 2021 Formula 3 Championship and third in the 2023 Formula 2 Championship.
For 2024, Doohan has made a strategic decision to prioritize a backup role with Alpine over potential race seats in other series such as Formula 2. The decision paid off as he will now be driving full-time at Alpine.
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.