Alpine F1 Team has officially confirmed Esteban Ocon’s early exit, paving the way for Jack Doohan’s F1 debut at the upcoming Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The decision comes as the Ocon prepares for his transition to Haas F1 Team in 2025, a move that has been anticipated since he signed with the American outfit earlier this year.
Esteban Ocon’s early exit marks the end of his five-year tenure with the Alpine F1 Team, during which he played a pivotal role in the team’s history, including securing its first-ever victory in Formula 1.
According to reports, Ocon agreed to relinquish his seat one race early after Alpine gave him a condition to step aside for Jack Doohan’s F1 debut at the Abu Dhabi GP so as to get permission to test for Haas when technically still under contract with the Woking outfit until the end of the year.
This arrangement allows him to participate in the post-season test for Haas at Yas Marina Circuit, providing him with an opportunity to familiarize himself with his new team’s machinery ahead of the 2025 F1 season.
The Alpine F1 Team confirmed Esteban Ocon’s early exit in a statement expressing gratitude for his contributions during his five-year tenure, which included securing the team’s first-ever F1 victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix.
”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,” Alpine said in a statement released on Monday. ”We wish Esteban the best for the future.”
Esteban Ocon’s early exit comes after a challenging season particularly following a disappointing performance at the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix where he was involved in an early collision that ended his race prematurely.
Reports indicate that his relationship with the team had soured over the course of the season, particularly regarding equipment parity and performance discrepancies compared to his teammate Pierre Gasly.
Ocon’s qualifying performances had notably declined in the latter half of the season, leading to speculation about his commitment and future with Alpine.
Team principal Oliver Oakes acknowledged the complexities surrounding the decision and hinted that Ocon’s recent form and complaints contributed to the move.
“You could say that’s had a part to play,” Oakes was quoted by The Race. “I think really the bigger part is sort of a natural evolution – he’s moving on, does it suit both of us to do that a bit earlier than the last round or not?
“From the other side, you could look at it that it’s advantageous to get Jack in the team, working with everybody and get those butterflies gone now rather than next year in Australia.
“Obviously as soon as Esteban announced he was off to Haas, you always have the constant sanity check of, ‘What’s the right solution there?'”
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will mark Jack Doohan’s F1 debut with the young driver taking over Ocon’s seat for the season finale.
The 21-year-old Australian driver and son of MotoGP legend Mick Doohan, was initially slated to join Alpine as a full-time driver in 2025. However, his early debut at Yas Marina Circuit allows him to gain invaluable experience before officially taking on his new role next year.
This opportunity also allows Alpine F1 Team to evaluate Doohan’s capabilities in a competitive environment before he officially joins the team next season alongside Pierre Gasly.
Doohan has been with Alpine as a reserve driver since 2022 and has participated in two Free Practice sessions this season at the Canadian and British Grands Prix. He will race under the #61, which is his registered reserve driver number.
