According to Autosport, Jack Doohan is close to finalizing a deal with the Alpine Formula 1 team to race alongside Pierre Gasly next season.
Following Carlos Sainz’s choice to decline Alpine’s offer and instead join Williams, the French team has been exploring its options for the upcoming year.
Sources suggest that they plan to promote reserve driver Doohan, the son of five-time 500cc motorcycle world champion Mick Doohan.
While a final contract has yet to be signed, it is anticipated that the formalities will be completed soon, with an announcement possibly occurring before the summer break in F1.
Doohan has been a candidate for an Alpine seat in 2025, though recent weeks have been uncertain with new F1 team advisor Flavio Briatore advocating for Sainz.
If Sainz had accepted the offer, Doohan would have likely seen his chances diminish, as he appeared to have limited options for moving up to F1.
However, with Sainz opting for another team and considering Doohan’s promising performances in F1 machinery, the team is now confident that the Australian is a strong choice for a race seat.
Jack Doohan, Reserve Driver, Alpine F1 Team, does a seat fit
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
Doohan’s prospects have further been strengthened by the recent appointment of new team principal Oliver Oakes, for whom he has previously raced at Hitech.
Securing a seat in F1 would validate Doohan’s decision to join the Alpine young driver program in 2022, after spending four years in Red Bull’s junior team.
Doohan believed that Alpine could provide him with more testing opportunities, which have included sessions in both the team’s previous cars and current F1 venues such as Losail, Monza, Hungaroring, Zandvoort, Paul Ricard, and Spa.
He has participated in six FP1 sessions for Alpine in locations such as Mexico, Abu Dhabi, Canada, and Silverstone.
Recently, Doohan was testing an A524 car at Spa-Francorchamps for a Pirelli tire test, taking the place of the unavailable Esteban Ocon.
If confirmed, Doohan’s promotion would lead to three rookies on the F1 grid next year, with Haas already announcing the signing of Oliver Bearman and Mercedes expected to promote Andrea Kimi Antonelli to partner George Russell.
