Australian Jack Doohan will make his Formula One debut sooner than expected, as the 21-year-old will race for Alpine this weekend in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the team announced on Monday.
Jack, son of legendary motorcycle racer Mick Doohan, will replace Esteban Ocon at Alpine after the 28-year-old was released early despite being contracted to the Renault-owned team until the end of the year.
BREAKING: Jack Doohan will make his F1 debut for Alpine in Abu Dhabi, replacing Esteban Ocon#F1 pic.twitter.com/JfLuX38AST
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 2, 2024
Ocon, who has signed for Haas, has been afforded the opportunity to drive for his new team ahead of the post-season test at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi on 10 December.
Meanwhile, Doohan has already been signed to race for Alpine in 2025 alongside Ocon’s teammate, Pierre Gasly, and Sunday’s race will help him prepare for next season when he moves up from reserve to full race driver.
Doohan is expected to debut for Alpine with his reserve driver number 61 and will also take part in the end-of-season test.
Alpine and Haas are currently engulfed in a battle for sixth place in the constructor championship, with the French-owned F1 team five points clear of their US-owned rivals.
Ocon won the Hungary Grand Prix in 2021, adding two more podium finishes for Alpine in five years with the team, finishing third in Monaco in 2023 and second in Brazil this year.
Thank you, Esteban ❤
We’ve shared some special memories together and wish you all the best for your next chapter. pic.twitter.com/PXdHdAjIRv
— BWT Alpine Formula One Team (@AlpineF1Team) December 2, 2024
