ZANDVOORT, Netherlands (AP) — Jack Doohan will make his Formula 1 debut for Alpine next season after the team promoted him from the reserve driver role Friday to become Pierre Gasly’s teammate.
The Australian driver will replace Esteban Ocon, who is leaving at the end of what has so far been a disappointing year for both him and Alpine. The team is eighth of 10 in the constructors’ standings ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday.
The 21-year-old Doohan, son of former motorcycle world champion Mick Doohan, was third in Formula 2 last year and has been a full-time reserve for Alpine in 2024.
“I am very grateful for the trust and belief by the team’s senior management,” Doohan said in a team statement.
“There is so much work ahead to be prepared and ready and I will give my best in the meantime to absorb as much information and knowledge to be ready for the step up.”
Renault-owned Alpine has been off the pace in F1 all year and has already seen numerous shake-ups in its management and technical staff. That included the return in an advisory role of Flavio Briatore, who ran the team in its previous guises of Benetton and Renault in the 1990s and 2000s.
Promoting Doohan is the first major announcement from Alpine since 36-year-old Oliver Oakes took over as team principal last month, replacing Bruno Famin. Alpine has also indicated it could move away from using its own Renault engines in the future.
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