- Young Australian Jack Doohan will soon debut in F1
- Formula One driver Esteban Ocon left his team on Monday
- Australia will have two drivers on the F1 grid at the next Abu Dhabi GP
Australian Jack Doohan, son of legendary motorcycle racer Mick Doohan, will make his debut for Alpine next week after Esteban Ocon resigned following Monday morning’s race in Qatar.
Ocon will leave Alpine after five years to join Haas in 2025, but was expected to complete the 2024 campaign by taking part in next weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
However, on Sunday night it was announced that Australian rookie Doohan, 21, would ride for Alpine in the United Arab Emirates in Ocon’s place.
Therefore, Ocon’s last outing with his current team will be a very disappointing performance at the Qatar GP, where he crashed during the first lap.
He was eliminated after contact with Nico Hulkenberg, the man he will replace at Haas.
Speaking after Sunday’s crash, Ocon said: “I think it was the wrong place and the wrong time.” Unfortunately, racing incident.
Rookie Jack Doohan will replace Ocon starting next weekend’s Abu Dhabi GP in the United Arab Emirates.
Esteban Ocon pictured on Sunday after ending his Alpine career by crashing at the Qatar GP
“I think we were all outside and we started to get quite close. And unfortunately we were already off the track when the collision occurred.
‘Unfortunately it is one incident and a short career for us. It’s not something we wanted, but I would like to thank the team for their hard work during this race and throughout the year.
‘When everything is going well, it’s good to stick together.
“But when things aren’t going so well, the engineers and mechanics stick together and that’s the most important thing.”
‘I already passed Franco. I was on Nico’s left side. I was on the hard tyre, so it was always going to be something like that, but unfortunately it was short for us.
“It’s important to look forward and see what we can prepare for the future.”
Alpine had confirmed in August that Doohan would replace Ocon next year.
Doohan reacted at the time by saying: “I am very happy to secure promotion to a full-time racing position in 2025 with the BWT Alpine F1 team. I am very grateful for the trust and confidence of the team’s senior management.
Ocon collided with Nico Hulkenberg during the first lap of Sunday’s race in Lusail City.
Jack Doohan and his girlfriend Ebony Zippora Gold
‘There is a lot of work ahead to be prepared and ready and in the meantime I will do my best to absorb as much information and knowledge so that I am ready to take the step forward.
“It is exceptionally satisfying to be the first Alpine Academy graduate to be in a racing seat with the team and I am very grateful to those who supported me along the way to make this a reality.
“It’s an exciting moment, a proud day for my family, and I look forward to taking it all in and putting in a lot of effort behind the scenes.”
Doohan, whose father Mick is a five-time 500cc motorcycle world champion, carved out a successful career in Formula 3 and Formula 2 before becoming Alpine’s permanent reserve driver and impressing team principal Oliver Oakes.
The emerging Australian talent was runner-up in the 2021 F3 championship and finished third in F2 last year, taking six wins and five pole positions.
Doohan has been Alpine’s reserve driver for the past two years, after his compatriot Piastri left the French team and joined McLaren.
The Formula 1 season ends at the Abu Dhabi GP on Monday, December 9.