Jack Doohan Set to Compete in Abu Dhabi GP, Concluding Ocon's Time with Alpine
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New Delhi, Dec 2 (NationPress) Alpine has revealed that Jack Doohan, who is slated to join the team next season, will step in for the departing Esteban Ocon for the concluding race of the season at Abu Dhabi.
The BWT Alpine Formula One Team stated that reserve driver Jack Doohan will participate in the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in place of Esteban Ocon. This change enables Ocon to transition to Haas for the post-season test in Abu Dhabi,” as per the team's announcement.
Ocon, a pivotal driver for Alpine over the past five years, has already been confirmed to leave the team at the end of the 2024 season to sign with Haas. Concurrently, Alpine had earlier disclosed that their reserve driver, Jack Doohan, would secure a full-time position alongside Pierre Gasly for the 2025 season.
Alpine's Team Principal Oliver Oakes commented on speculations regarding Ocon's early exit, potentially setting the stage for Jack Doohan’s debut at the Abu Dhabi season finale.
This transition would permit Ocon to join Haas sooner, allowing him to drive for his new team during the post-season test in Abu Dhabi, while providing Doohan with invaluable race experience before his inaugural season.
“It’s obviously a bit complex because, while he is ours, he’s also contractually a Mercedes junior, and he’d like to be released early as well. I think anyone who gets thrown into an F1 car in a race like that can find it challenging to judge. But Jack is professional enough to manage it. Once you start the weekend with FP1 and FP2, you can build up to it,” Oakes was quoted as saying by the F1 website following the Qatar GP.
Speculation about a strained relationship between Ocon and the team has persisted throughout the season, particularly after a notable collision with teammate Pierre Gasly at the Monaco Grand Prix. However, Oakes refuted the idea that such incidents were a significant factor in the discussions, highlighting the practical advantages of an early transition.
Doohan’s anticipated debut would also evoke comparisons to other remarkable rookie performances, including Ollie Bearman’s impressive outing in Saudi Arabia and the high-pressure debut of Mercedes’ junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli in Monza.
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