Jack Doohan to make F1 debut in Abu Dhabi as Esteban Ocon released

Credit: Bryan Steffy

A change at Alpine, for the final race of the season, will occur as Jack Doohan is to make his Formula 1 debut in Abu Dhabi, as he replaces the released Esteban Ocon - the team have confirmed.

Doohan is set to drive for the team in 2025, alongside Pierre Gasly, but he will come into the seat a race early as he will finish the 2024 Formula 1 season with the team as Esteban Ocon has been released from the team - which will allow him to compete in the Haas post-season test.

Haas is Ocon's place for the next two seasons as the French driver will partner Oliver Bearman for the 2025 and 2026 world championships. There was an agreement in place with Ocon racing until the end of the season, that if he did such thing, he would not be able to compete in the post-season testing with his new team for the next two seasons.

It was rumoured in the paddock following Sunday's Qatar Grand Prix that Ocon would be replaced by Doohan in the final round at the Yas Marina Circuit for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Sure enough, on Monday morning, it was confirmed that Ocon would be released by Alpine and Jack Doohan would take the seat for the final round of the 2024 season.

In a statement on their website, Alpine said: "BWT Alpine Formula One Team announces that Reserve Driver Jack Doohan will race in the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in place of Esteban Ocon.

"The change allows Esteban to be released to Haas to drive in the post-season test in Abu Dhabi. Jack, who has already been announced as an official driver for the 2025 season alongside Pierre Gasly, will race with the #61 as his registered Reserve Driver number and will also participate in the end-of-season test for the team at the Yas Marina Circuit.

"The team would like to thank Esteban for his time at the team and he will remain part of the team's history achieving the first win for Alpine in Formula 1. We wish Esteban the best for the future."

Ocon's time at Alpine has come to an end and his last racing action was in the Qatar GrandPrix, where he was the innocent party in a turn 1 collision with Nico Hulkenberg. Doohan's debut will come in just under a week's time in the 2024 Formula 1 season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Brandon Whiteside
Writer and X Contributor - F1 Journal