Doohan Promoted to Full-time Alpine Seat for 2025
Australian racer Jack Doohan is set to make his Formula 1 debut with Alpine in 2025, progressing from his position as a reserve driver, BBC reported. The 21-year-old, son of five-time MotoGP champion Mick Doohan, will team up with French driver Pierre Gasly, who has been with Alpine since 2023. Doohan's appointment comes as a replacement for Esteban Ocon, who is moving to Haas following an anticipated split from Alpine.
Doohan has been a part of Alpine’s dedicated academy since 2022, after transitioning from the Red Bull junior set-up. His notable achievements include finishing third in the 2022 F2 championship with three wins and being the runner-up in the 2021 F3 standings. His imminent promotion followed circulating rumors and Ocon's announced departure.
New Alpine Team Principal Oliver Oakes, who had previously managed Doohan in the Asian Formula 3 with HiTech, expressed his enthusiasm: "Jack will be the first driver to graduate from the Alpine Academy into a race driver position, which is an exceptional milestone for the team's young driver pathway. His dedication, hard work, and potential are highly valued by the team. Both he and Pierre bring a balanced lineup of youthful energy and experience."
Doohan has been actively preparing for his F1 role by participating in numerous private tests and appearing in several FP1 sessions for Alpine. He remarked, "Being promoted to a full-time race seat is a proud moment for my family. I am thankful for the trust from the team's senior management and motivated to work diligently to absorb all the knowledge required for this significant step."
Alpine has encountered significant senior management changes in the past year, with Oliver Oakes recently stepping into the principal role, succeeding Bruno Famin. Famin's own tenure followed the departure of Otmar Szafnauer. The team also experienced a turnover in other key positions and appointed Flavio Briatore as an executive adviser, adding another layer of strategic shifts. Briatore's recommendation to end the Renault F1 engine program and become a Mercedes customer is yet to be confirmed.
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