Former BWT Alpine driver Esteban Ocon’s sudden departure means Doohan’s maiden F1 race will take place in Abu Dhabi next week. It advances the Australian driver’s full-time tenure with Alpine by three months.
It’s the last race of the 2024 F1 calendar, but the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be Australian Jack Doohan’s very first as a full-time F1 driver.
Esteban Ocon stepped away from Alpine today after a disappointing race at the Qatar Grand Prix. Doohan – who was announced in August as a permanent driver for Alpine’s 2025 season – will now step in to take the wheel earlier than expected.
“Jack, who has already been announced as an official driver for the 2025 season alongside Pierre Gasly, will race with the #61 as his registered Reserve Driver number and will also participate in the end-of-season test for the team at the Yas Marina Circuit,” BWT Alpine told Forbes Australia in a statement.
“The change allows Esteban to be released to Haas to drive in the post-season test in Abu Dhabi. 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 1. We wish Esteban the best for the future,” the statement reads.
The son of motorcycling world champion Mick Doohan is just 21. He has been Alpine’s reserve driver since 2022 and will pair with Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly for the 2025 season. Doohan is the first Alpine Academy prospect to graduate into a full-time driving seat.
“Pierre and Jack give the team balance of youth and experience in its driver line-up,” a statement from Alpine reads.
Doohan is yet to comment on his early debut.
“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,” Doohan stated when Alpine announced that he would transition to a full-time driver position.
“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,” says Doohan.
The Queenslander worked his way up the global driving ranks from F3 to F2 to a reserve driver for F1. He was the runner-up in the 2021 FIA Formula 3 Championship and took third place in the 2023 Formula 2 competition.
Oliver Oakes, Alpine’s Team Principal says he is impressed by Doohan’s work ethic on and off the track.
“I have worked with Jack back in 2019 and I am fully aware of his raw talent and potential. He is a very hard worker behind the scenes and his commitment is hugely valued by the entire team. We look forward to working with both Jack and Pierre in order to keep developing the car and bring the team up the grid,” Oakes said in August.
Ocon is reportedly interested to test with his new team Haas during this week’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Similarly, Alpine would like Doohan to take his seat as a full-time driver position prior to the 2025 season.
“I guess you could say it’s good to get Jack in early. I think you could say from Esteban’s side it’s good to move on early. I think it suits everybody. The discussion was quite natural, really. Esteban has been a big part of this team as well. From both sides, it suits each other,” Oakes told The Athletic.
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