Alpine's Esteban Ocon Released Before Final Race, Reserve Driver Jack Doohan to Make Formula 1 Debut Earlier Than Expected

justjared.com:

Esteban Ocon‘s time on the BWT Alpine F1 Team has just ended a little sooner than expected. The 28-year-old French Formula 1 driver made podium a few weeks ago in Brazil, his highest placement of the season, but last weekend in Qatar, unfortunately had a DNF after an accident in the later part of the race.

On Monday (December 2), Alpine announced that Esteban has been released from the team just days before the last race of the 2024 season, and reserve driver Jack Doohan will step up and make his F1 race debut at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend. Keep reading to find out more… “BWT Alpine Formula One Team announces that Reserve Driver Jack Doohan will race in the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in place of Esteban Ocon.

The change allows Esteban to be released to Haas to drive in the post-season test in Abu Dhabi,” the team said in a statement. “Jack, who has already been announced as an official driver for the 2025 season alongside Pierre Gasly, will race with the #61 as his registered Reserve Driver number and will also participate in the end-of-season test for the team at the Yas Marina Circuit,” the statement continued. “The team would like to thank Esteban for his time at the team and he will remain part of the team’s history achieving the first win for Alpine in Formula 1.

We wish Esteban the best for the future,” they concluded. While Jack has driven in practice sessions this year, he will take part in full race weekend duties as an F1 driver this weekend, hoping to score more points for Alpine as the season comes to an end.