How Jack Doohan has worked his way into an F1 seat alongside Pierre Gasly at Alpine for 2025.
Jack Doohan earned a promotion to Formula 1 with Alpine, taking over from Esteban Ocon, who will move to Haas in 2025. For some, this moment has been a long time coming, while others might not be as familiar with the 21-year-old Australian.
Dreams 𝘿𝙤𝙤 come true ✨
Jack Doohan will complete our line-up for 2025 pic.twitter.com/6pcazuY6sk
— BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) August 23, 2024
Doohan, currently serving as Alpine’s reserve driver, will join the F1 grid as one of three rookies next season. This marks a significant step in his motorsport career as he follows in the footsteps of his father, Mick Doohan, a five-time premier-class motorcycle champion.
He was on a list of names for the open Alpine seat, which became available after the Monaco Grand Prix. Carlos Sainz, who announced a move to Williams, and Alpine endurance driver Mick Schumacher were at the top alongside Doohan.
While veteran drivers, such as Valtteri Bottas, Kevin Magnussen, and Daniel Ricciardo, who each have not confirmed their future as of yet, could have caught Alpine’s attention with their wealth of experience, Jack Doohan ultimately won over the team. Here is why:
Red Bull Junior
Jack Doohan launched his single-seater career in 2018, competing in the British F4 Championship under the Red Bull junior programme. He quickly made an impact, securing the rookie champion title and finishing fifth in the drivers’ standings.
Building on this momentum, Dooham expanded his racing horizons, competing in Italian F4, the ADAC F4 Championship, and the Asian F3 Championship. His talent shone through as he claimed second place in the Asian F3 Championship in 2019.
In 2020, Doohan took on the highly competitive FIA Formula 3 Championship. Despite high expectations, his debut season proved challenging as he faced tough competition from the likes of Oscar Piastri, Theo Pourchaire, Logan Sargeant, and Frederik Vesti. He ended the season 26th in the standings, failing to score any points.
But 2o21 marked a turning point for Doohan. He finished second in the FIA F3 Championship. That same year, he made his Formula 2 debut with MP Motorsport for the final six races of the season, scoring points twice. He also proved his readiness for the next step in his motorsport journey.
Alpine Junior
Before his first full-time season in F2 with Virtuosi Racing, the Australian made a significant career move by leaving the Red Bull junior academy. He instead joined Alpine’s driver development programme. At the time, Alpine’s academy included just one other member: fellow Australian Oscar Piastri who now drives in F1 for McLaren. Doohan quickly made his mark, securing his first feature race win at Spa-Francorchamps. He finished the season sixth in the drivers’ standings.
In 2023, Doohan continued to impress Alpine with standout performances. He claimed feature race victories at Budapest, Spa, and Yas Marina, ultimately finishing third in the F2 championship. His strong season led to his announcement as Alpine’s official reserve driver for 2024. This positioned him on the brink of an F1 breakthrough.
Reserve Driver
Throughout the 2024 season, Doohan has been a constant presence in the F1 paddock. His charisma and knowledge also earned him regular appearances as TV pundit for F1 TV, further solidifying his visibility in the sport and contributing to his eventual F1 promotion.
When Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes joined Jack Doohan for a @pirellisport Hot Lap 🔥
The Alpine investor kick-starts another NFL season tonight 🏈#F1 #F1PirelliHotLaps pic.twitter.com/hZXW2oxmyC
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 5, 2024
His dedication has extended beyond the paddock, with countless hours spent on the simulator and multiple FP1 outings. He made his debut in Mexico City in both 2022 and 2023, followed by Abu Dhabi during those same years, and most recently in Canada in 2024.
This hard work paid off when he impressed during a private test at Le Castellet in France in July, marking a pivotal moment in his path to F1. He worked through a testing programme alongside Mick Schumacher, who is also eyeing a 2025 F1 seat. However, this does look unlikely.
According to the then Alpine team principal Bruno Famin, both drivers “performed very well,” but it was Doohan who stood out to the French team. His name appeared on their “long list” of potential replacements for Ocon, further boosting his chances of the full-time seat.
With his future secured at Alpine, Jack Doohan is expected to make more FP1 appearances, joining fellow 2025 rookies Ollie Bearman for Haas and Kimi Antonelli for Mercedes. These sessions will likely provide valuable experience for the trio, especially for Antonelli, who had a tough outing in Monza where he crashed early in his FP1 debut. The added track time will be important as all three prepare for their rookie seasons in Formula 1.
F1 Seat
Doohan was announced as Alpine’s latest driver at the start of the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix weekend.
He said:
“I am so happy to secure promotion into a full-time race seat in 2025 with BWT Alpine F1 Team. I am very grateful for the trust and belief by the team’s senior management.
“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.”
Conclusion
Jack Doohan will become the first Alpine academy driver to secure a full-time race seat with the team since Romain Grosjean’s promotion in 20o9.
While Alpine faces key decisions off-track, including finalising their engine plans for next season amid internal turmoil, the team’s driver line-up remains settled and secure with Doohan now part of the equation.
