The Son Of A Motorsport Legend Will Make His Formula 1 Debut

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - JUNE 06: Jack Doohan of Australia and Alpine F1 arrives in the Paddock during ... [+] previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 06, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

Formula 1 will welcome one motorsport’s most famous surnames in the paddock next season, with Jack Doohan set to replace Esteban Ocon at Alpine.

The Australian, the son of five-time Grand Prix motorcycle world champion Mick Doohan has been Alpine’s reserve driver for the past two seasons.

And as Formula 1 returns from its summer break with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort this weekend, the team confirmed Doohan would replace the Haas-bound Ocon alongside Pierre Gasly next year.

Alpine is third from bottom in the constructors’ standings with 11 points this season, with Gasly picking up six and Ocon claiming five.

"I am very grateful for the trust and belief by the team's senior management,” Doohan said in a statement.

"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."

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 24: Jack Doohan of Australia and Alpine F1 and Mick ... [+] Doohan walk in the Pitlane during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on November 24, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Doohan’s father Mick is a motorsport legend, having won five consecutive 500cc World Titles with Honda between 1994 and 1998.

The Australian made his debut in 1989 in the 500cc class, the then-premier class of Grand Prix motorcycle racing, which was subsequently rebranded MotoGP in 2002 with the introduction of 990cc engines.

With 54 race wins, Doohan is the sixth most-successful Grand Prix rider of all time and the fourth in terms of world titles won in the sport’s top class.

Doohan Jr, who will make his Formula 1 debut on home soil as Australia hosts the season opener on March 16, finished third in last year’s Formula 2 championship with three race wins to his name.

In 2021, he finished runner-up in the Formula 3 championship and worked with Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes in the series with the HiTech team in 2019.

Oakes, who was himself promoted to Alpine team principal less than a month ago, was full of praise for Doohan.

“ I am fully aware of his raw talent and potential," he said.

"He is a very hard worker behind the scenes and his commitment is hugely valued by the entire team.

“Alongside Pierre [Gasly], we have a well-balanced driver line-up with a good combination between youthful energy, experience, and pure speed."

Doohan has been part of Alpine’s academy - which also nurtured current McLaren driver and fellow Australian Oscar Piastri - for the past two years and becomes the first driver to come through the program and race for the team in Formula 1.

"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 addded.

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 26: Race winner Jack Doohan of Australia and Invicta ... [+] Virtuosi Racing (14) celebrates on the podium during the Round 14 Yas Marina Feature race of the Formula 2 Championship at Yas Marina Circuit on November 26, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

The Australian completed a host of private tests with Alpine and has taken part in six free practice sessions on race weekends so far, including in Canada and Britain this season.

Doohan will be the second new name on the grid next season alongside Oliver Bearman, who signed for Haas last month.

The 19-year-old Briton, who currently races in Formula 2, is Ferrari’s reserve driver made a big impression on his Formula 1 debut with the Scuderia back in March, finishing seventh at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after he stepped in to replace Carlos Sainz as the latter recovered from appendicitis.

Doohan’s arrival at Alpine means there are only three vacancies on the grid for 2025, with Mercedes, RB and Sauber each left with one seat to fill.

Fellow rookies Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Liam Dawson could still join Bearman and Doohan after being heavily linked with Mercedes and RB, respectively.