Esteban Ocon will conclude his Alpine Formula 1 journey one race early, with Jack Doohan set to make his F1 debut at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The decision comes amid Ocon's challenging 2024 season, where he has been outperformed by teammate Pierre Gasly. Despite a remarkable second-place finish in Brazil, Ocon has managed only five point-scoring finishes compared to Gasly's eight. The qualifying battle stands at 12-11 in Gasly's favor, with Ocon securing just one superior qualifying position in the last five races.

The early departure gained momentum following Ocon's disappointing qualifying performance in Qatar, where he finished last while Gasly narrowly missed Q3. Ocon is set to join Haas for the 2025 season.

Team principal Oliver Oaks confirmed ongoing discussions about the early release, noting the complexities due to Ocon's Mercedes junior driver status. The arrangement appears mutually beneficial, allowing Alpine to give Doohan early experience while enabling Ocon to transition to his new team.

Jack Doohan, Alpine's reserve driver and confirmed 2025 race driver, will replace Ocon in Abu Dhabi. He was already scheduled to participate in the post-race test at the circuit. This development comes amid speculation about Doohan's future, with Franco Colapinto reportedly in contention for a race seat backed by significant sponsorship.

An official announcement is expected on Monday, though Alpine has currently declined to provide official comment on the situation.

Related Articles

Previous Articles