‘Proud day for my family’: Jack Doohan promoted to Alpine F1 team

Australia could have three drivers in Formula One next season after the son of an Aussie legend was promoted to the big time.

Jack Doohan has signed on the dotted line. Photo: Getty Images

Australia could have three drivers in the F1 next season after Jack Doohan was officially unveiled as an Alpine driver for 2025, replacing Esteban Ocon.

The 21-year-old son of five-time MotoGP world champion Mick Doohan has long been linked to the seat but his promotion has finally been made official by Alpine, signing a one-year deal.

Every qualifying session and race from the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship™ LIVE in 4K. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

The seat was made vacant by the exit of Ocon for Haas, with Doohan having impressed during his F2 championship season last year.

After finishing runner up in F3 in 2021, Doohan was third overall in last years’ F2 championship, claiming three race wins.

He took the reserve driver role with Alpine this season and the team has seen enough to give him a shot partnering Pierre Gasly.

“I am so happy to secure promotion into a full-time race seat in 2025 with BWT Alpine F1 Team,” Doohan said. “I am very grateful for the trust and belief by the team’s senior management.

Jack Doohan with dad Mick. Photo by James Bearne/Getty Images

“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.

“It’s exceptionally satisfying to be the first graduate of the Alpine Academy to be in a race seat with the team and I’m extremely thankful to those who supported me along the way to make this a reality.

“It’s an exciting moment, a proud day for my family, and I look forward to taking it all in and pushing hard behind the scenes.”

Doohan also took to social media, sharing a picture of him with the signed contract.

“A truly surreal feeling to secure my future with Alpine as a Formula 1 Driver for 2025. A dream come true, but something that could not have been obtained without many personal sacrifices from me and family. An opportunity I intend to grab with two hands and leave no stone unturned both on and off the track. Most importantly, I can’t thank the entire BWT Alpine F1 Team enough for this opportunity,” he posted on Instagram.

You did it Jacky boy! Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images

Jack Doohan has signed on the dotted line. Photo: Instagram

As a reserve driver, most of Doohan’s work has been behind the scenes in the simulator as well as taking part in a test program using the 2022 Alpine car.

Otherwise, since joining Alpine in early 2022, he has accumulated five FP1 appearances and participated in the post-Abu Dhabi Grand Prix test twice.

Newly appointed team principal Oliver Oakes has previously worked with Doohan when he was in the Asian F3 in 2019.

“We are very excited to promote Jack into the race seat from next season and, in doing so, giving him the opportunity to showcase his skill and talent in Formula 1,” Oakes said.

“Jack will become the first driver to graduate from the Alpine Academy into a race driver position with the team, so that is exceptionally pleasing for the team and its young driver pathway.

“Personally, I have worked with Jack back in 2019 and I am fully aware of his raw talent and potential.

“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.”

Doohan will have his work cut out for him however as 2024 has been a dismal season for Alpine.

Jack Doohan is an F1 driver. Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images

The team is eighth in the driver standings on just 11 points, with Gasly responsible for six points and Ocon good for the other five.

Between the current pair, the highest finish has been ninth.

Doohan will join fellow Aussie Oscar Piastri at McLaren, while veteran Daniel Ricciardo could also be on the grid but his future is a bit more up in the air.

Ricciardo is out of contract at the end of the year at Red Bull’s junior team VCARB, but there’s been plenty of speculation about his future recently.

Ricciardo was believed to be in line to take over from Sergio Perez at the top Red Bull team, but the team stood firm despite the Mexican being 146 points behind his teammate and having not had a top five finish since Miami.

It has seen Red Bull’s constructors championship lead cut to just 42 points ahead of McLaren, with Ferrari only 63 points behind them.

But after Red Bull stuck with Perez, Ricciardo is in limbo with Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko revealing the team wants to get Liam Lawson into a seat one way or another.

However, Ricciardo may still have options with a seat at Sauber — which will be rebranded to Audi before the 2026 season — reportedly still a possibility.

Originally published as ‘Proud day for my family’: Jack Doohan promoted to Alpine F1 team