Australian driver Jack Doohan has claimed his F1 seat in Alpine, replacing Esteban Ocon, who is moving to Haas, next season.
He is set to make his debut in Melbourne, the season opener race in 2025, along with fellow Australians on the grid, Oscar Piastri and Daniel Ricciardo.
The French manufacturer were unable to find a better replacement for Haas bound Ocon, with failing to sign Carlos Sainz, they gave a chance to their reserve driver Jack Doohan who would be teammate with Pierre Gasly, next season.
Doohan acted as a reserve driver for Alpine, for the past two years becoming the first driver to get an F1 seat, being a reserve driver. The first one was Oscar Piastri, who was also a reserve driver, but he signed with McLaren to make his debut in 2023.
Jack Doohan’s career as a race driver
The 21 year old Australian is the son of five time Grand Prix Motorcycling World Champion Mick Doohan, who has served as a reserve driver for Alpine Academy, since 2023. He had completed his F2 programme last year as well, finishing third with three victories.
He has made appearances in FP1 with impressive results in Canada and Silverstone, along with his behind the scenes simulator work. His performance had made him a strong contender for the Alpine seat along Gasly, even before Carlos Sainz’s name popped up.
With Sainz choosing Williams, it became immediately clear that it is Jack Doohan who is going to get the Alpine seat, replacing Esteban Ocon who is going to join Haas from 2025, after five years. The news of split from Alpine came not so soon before the infamous crash between Gasly and Ocon in the Monaco Grand Prix.
This has confirmed that there would be more rookies next season including Ferrari favourite Ollie Bearman, who made his debut in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, in place of Carlos Sainz, earning six points in the driver’s table and Mercedes top pick Kimi Antonelli who is set to replace Lewis Hamilton.
Before joining Alpine, Doohan was a member of Red Bull Junior team and had also worked with Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes in F3 championship, where he finished as a runner up.
Alpine’s take on Doohan as the new driver
Alpine has stated that they are looking forward to Doohan as their new driver and partner alongside Pierre Gasly. The balance of youth and experience would vitalize the driver line up for a wonderful future ahead. Alpine has ranked eighth out of ten in the Constructors Championship, and that too Gasly scoring six, Ocon with five. The last win for Alpine came in the Hungary Grand Prix by Esteban Ocon in 2021.
Alpine also faced some changes in their management, with their new team principal Oliver Oakes who replaced Frenchman Bruno Famin, who was on a temporary basis. Before the driver news came up, Gasly had praised Doohan, saying he would be the third Australian in the F1 grid, and a better option for Alpine considering he is fast and had a good season in F2.
Doohan had been extremely grateful and benevolent to be the only Alpine graduate on getting a full time driver seat. He has to make a lot of preparations for the next season to make his debut in the F1 grid.
