Jack Doohan, the second rookie to join the Formula One grid for the next year, will round out Alpine’s 2025 driver lineup.
Ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, Alpine made the announcement on Friday. Doohan will be joining Haas for the upcoming season, replacing Esteban Ocon.
Since joining Alpine in 2022, Doohan has progressively become more involved. When he was a rookie in Formula Two, it began as part of the Driver Development Programme, and in 2023 he was promoted to reserve driver for the team. The role for the 2022 car involved a more rigorous testing procedure this season.
“I am so happy to secure promotion into a full-time race seat in 2025,” Doohan said. “I am very grateful for the trust and belief by the team’s senior management. 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.”
Dreams 𝘿𝙤𝙤 come true ✨
— BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) August 23, 2024
Jack Doohan will complete our line-up for 2025 pic.twitter.com/6pcazuY6sk
Given that Doohan was a member of Red Bull’s junior squad from 2017 to 2021, many were shocked by his decision to enroll in Alpine’s program, but it has paid off. Since joining, he has driven in several practice sessions, the most recent of which was held at Silverstone this year, and taken part in numerous tests in former Formula One machinery at current Formula One facilities.
Doohan intended for testing periods to be approached as short-lived race weekends. He competed in a 66-lap, double-stop race in Barcelona earlier this year using three different tire formulations. Doohan discussed the testing sessions with The Athletic back in February.
“Really just trying to make sure that if I need to jump in the car, and when I do, then I’m more ready than ever,” Doohan said. “And then I can make sure that we do the best and, especially for when I do become a full-time driver very soon, that I’ll be making the most of it.”
Doohan’s responsibilities also include simulator work, which has an immediate effect on on-track performance. In a post on its website after the Monaco Grand Prix, Alpine recognized Doohan as the event’s “unsung hero” and talked about how his simulation work influenced the result. That weekend, Pierre Gasly scored the team’s second point of the year. Doohan calculated that he had spent over nine hours using the simulator.
Shortly after Carlos Sainz declared he would join Williams in 2025, this driver market move occurred, which affected Alpine, one of the teams that expressed interest in adding the Spaniard to their project. Additionally, there have been a lot of changes in the camp during the past few weeks.
In addition, team principal Bruno Famin is leaving the position at the end of August to concentrate on his responsibilities as the vice president of racing. Alpine intends to discontinue its factory engine program in 2026. The new team manager will be Oliver Oakes, a former racer who started the Hitech Grand Prix program. It is noteworthy that Doohan participated in Hitech Grand Prix races in the past.
“I have worked with Jack back in 2019 and I am fully aware of his raw talent and potential,” team principal, Oliver Oakes, said. “He is a very hard worker behind the scenes and his commitment is hugely valued by the entire team.
“Alongside Pierre, we have a well-balanced driver line-up with a good combination between youthful energy, experience, and pure speed. We look forward to working with both Jack and Pierre in order to keep developing the car and bring the team up the grid.”
(Top photo: Sipa USA)
