Alpine has yet to field a rookie in the first Free Practice session this Formula One season – That is set to change in Mexico and Abi Dhabi with Jack Doohan
Jack Doohan will drive the first free practice sessions as a rookie for Formula 1 team Alpine in both Mexico and Abu Dhabi, making his official Formula 1 debut. However, a formal confirmation is yet to be made.
It is understood that this has been delayed due to complications in the formal handling of Oscar Piastri’s departure from the team. Piastri was originally due to contest the FT1 outings with Alpine, but that became obsolete after his move to McLaren was confirmed.
Doohan has been preparing for his stint with drives in the 2021 Alpine car, including last month in Budapest at the same session where Nyck de Vries and Antonio Giovinazzi drove the car. He also gained brief experience of the current car at a film day in Monza.
Doohan was Plan B for Alpine
The 19-year-old is highly regarded in the Alpine camp and was mooted as a possible Plan B had the team been unable to secure the services of Pierre Gasly for 2023.
With a strong first Formula 2 season2, in which he won the sprints at Silverstone and Hungary as well as the main race at Spa, the son of motorbike world champion Mick Doohan has put himself in the conversation. He is currently fourth in the points standings.
However, with Alpine’s line-up now complete for 2023 with Gasly and Ocon, it remains to be seen what options Doohan has for next year and beyond.
In terms of first free practice entries, a number of other teams have also yet to confirm their rookies, with Red Bull Racing and also AlphaTauri yet to complete a session. Liam Lawson is considered a candidate for both places.
De Vries is unlikely to be an option due to his ongoing Mercedes commitments. The Dutchman still has to complete one more session in the W13 in Mexico.
These rookies are still to come
Other FT1 entries include Pietro Fittipaldi (Haas, Mexico and Abu Dhabi), Pato O’Ward (McLaren, Abu Dhabi), Felipe Drugovich (Aston Martin, Abu Dhabi), Robert Schwarzman (Ferrari, Abu Dhabi) and Logan Sargeant (Williams, Mexico and Abu Dhabi).
Many of the drivers who completed FT1 this year will also take part in the rookie tests, which take place after the Abu Dhabi race weekend and form part of Pirelli’s preparations for 2023. It is believed that De Vries will be free to race for AlphaTauri by then.
For this year’s mandatory rookie entries in FT1, Mexico and Abu Dhabi are the last opportunities for all teams, as Brazil is a sprint race and the first Free Practice session is immediately followed by qualifying in the afternoon.
