Formula One team Alpine will allow its reserve driver Jack Doohan to take part in Friday practice at the Grands Prix in Mexico and Abu Dhabi, praising his work ethic
Jack Doohan will again be allowed to take part in two Friday practice sessions for Alpine in the 2023 Formula One season, and once again the choice fell on the Grands Prix in Mexico and Abu Dhabi, as it did in 2022. In the first case, Doohan will start in place of regular driver Pierre Gasly, and in the second case, in place of the latter’s teammate Esteban Ocon.
Alpine wants to use these assignments to further introduce Doohan to Formula 1 and give his replacement driver more driving experience in the current race car. Interim team principal Bruno Famin says: “Jack has worked hard this year and his attitude is most pleasing. We’re happy to support him in the two free practices, but his main focus is to finish Formula 2 in the best possible way.”
Ahead of Formula 2’s final weekend in Abu Dhabi (held in conjunction with Formula 1), Doohan sits fourth in the standings with 138 points. The gap to the top 3 is 14 points and Alpine says Doohan is desperate 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 motor racing: family friend Michael Schumacher once gave him his first kart, and Doohan has been in a formula car since 2018.
His greatest successes to date include second overall in Asian Formula 3 in 2019 and 2020 and also P2 in Formula 3 in 2021. In Formula 2, Doohan achieved sixth overall in 2022 in his first full season in the championship.
In parallel to his involvement in the junior series, Doohan is employed by Alpine as a reserve and simulator driver. He will also undertake extensive testing in the A521 from the 2021 season.
2024 there is no place for Alpine in Formula 1
Doohan himself says: “As a reserve driver, I’ve worked really hard this year and taken every opportunity to learn as much as I can for the team. I feel ready to take the next step. And I want to contribute positively to the team performance at the two Grand Prix weekends [in Mexico and Abu Dhabi].”
That’s as far as it will go for now: Alpine already has two drivers under contract for the 2024 Formula 1 season in Gasly and Ocon, and has no place for Doohan on the front row next year.