The departure of Ocon from Alpine presents an opportunity for 21-year-old Jack Doohan, son of MotoGP legend Mick Doohan, to secure a spot on the grid next year. Doohan is currently the lead driver of the French team’s academy, which also produced Oscar Piastri for Formula 1. With Piastri’s departure, Doohan is ready and eager to take a step forward. He will begin his journey towards an F1 seat in 2025 by participating in FP1 at the Canadian Grand Prix on Friday, while Ocon sits out the session.
Alpine team boss Bruno Famin confirmed that Doohan will replace Esteban Ocon during the mandatory first free practice session for young drivers in Canada. Famin expressed confidence in Doohan’s abilities, citing his excellent work in the simulator during recent races and the valuable feedback he can provide in Montreal.
Unlike Piastri, who has had success in championships across various racing series, Doohan has not yet won a title in any car competition. In his second year competing in the Formula 2 Championship, he finished third in 2023. In 2024, Doohan has been the reserve driver for Alpine, patiently waiting for his opportunity while providing insights for F1TV.
Doohan expressed his excitement for the upcoming FP1 session in Montreal, highlighting that it will be his first time driving at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. He expressed gratitude to the team for the opportunity to gain more track time and familiarize himself with the 2024 machine early in the season. Doohan also mentioned that this experience will help his work in the simulator, especially during the European stages. His focus will be to support the team and maximize the session for both drivers, as well as to examine specific test items and understand the new track surface.
Doohan has already taken part in four free practice sessions for F1 rookies, driving the Alpine A522 and A523 at the Mexico City Grand Prix and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2022 and 2023. If Doohan successfully makes it into Formula 1, he will join other 20 Australian drivers who have competed at the top level. Currently, Oscar Piastri and Daniel Ricciardo are the two Australian drivers on the current grid.
