Jack Doohan will also be able to take part in two Friday training sessions for Alpine in the 2023 Formula 1 season, and once again the choice fell on the Grands Prix in Mexico and Abu Dhabi, as in 2022. In the first case, Doohan will compete in place of regular driver Pierre Gasly second case instead of his teammate Esteban Ocon.
With these missions, Alpine wants to bring Doohan closer to Formula 1 and give his replacement driver more driving experience in the current racing car. Interim team boss Bruno Famin said: “Jack has worked hard this year and his attitude is extremely pleasing. We are happy to support him in the two free practice sessions, but his main focus is to complete Formula 2 in the best possible way.”
Before the final weekend of Formula 2 in Abu Dhabi (as part of Formula 1), Doohan is in fourth place in the table with 138 points. The gap to the top three is 14 points and according to Alpine, Doohan is determined to move up at least one more position.
Jack Doohan: “Schumi” gave him his first kart
The 20-year-old Australian is the son of motorcycle legend Mick Doohan, who became world champion five times in the 1990s. Jack Doohan, however, was drawn to automobile racing: family friend Michael Schumacher once gave him his first kart, and Doohan has been driving a formula car since 2018.
His greatest successes to date include second overall places in Asian Formula 3 2019 and 2020 as well as P2 in Formula 3 2021. In Formula 2, Doohan achieved sixth place overall in 2022 in his first full season in the championship.
In parallel to his involvement in the junior series, Doohan is used as a substitute and simulator driver at Alpine. He is also undertaking extensive test drives in the A521 from the 2021 season.
There is no place for Alpine in Formula 1 in 2024
Doohan himself says: “As a reserve driver, I worked really hard this year and used every opportunity to learn as much as possible for the team. I feel ready to take the next step. And I want to be positive about the team’s performance at the two Grand Prix races. Prix weekends [in Mexiko und Abu Dhabi] contribute.”
Nothing more will come of it for the time being: Alpine already has two drivers under contract, Gasly and Ocon, for the 2024 Formula 1 season and has no place for Doohan in the front row next year.