Esteban Ocon will not race for Alpine next weekend in the final race of the season, it’s been announced. The Frenchman is going to be swapped out for next year’s full-time driver, Jack Doohan, in a deal sealed with Flavio Briatore which releases Ocon to drive in the post-season test with Haas.
Esteban Ocon is due to undertake a seat with Haas next season after a tumultuous few years with the French outfit, Alpine. It has now been revealed that he will be released immediately to undertake testing with Haas at the end of the season. Five points separate the two teams in the Constructors standings, and eyes now fall on Alpine’s remaining driver Pierre Gasly to try and stay ahead by next Sunday night…
What has been said?
“I would like to thank the team for their hard work over this race and their hard work over the whole year,”
“When it’s going well, it’s good to stick together.
“But when it’s not going so well the engineers and the mechanics stick together and that’s the most important thing.”
“It’s important to look ahead and see what we can prepare for the future.”
Esteban Ocon speaking after the race to the media.
The update follows a challenging weekend in Qatar for Ocon, who started at the back of the grid and saw his race come to an early end at the first corner due to a Lap 1 collision with Nico Hulkenberg and Franco Colapinto.
Before the official confirmation, Alpine boss Oliver Oakes acknowledged that releasing Ocon early – and giving Doohan the opportunity to debut in Abu Dhabi – appeared to benefit everyone involved.
“I think it comes from all sides really,”
“I guess you could say it’s good to get Jack in early, I think you could say from Esteban’s side it’s good to move on early.
“I think it suits everybody, so I think the discussion was quite natural really, and I think Esteban’s been a big part of this team as well and from both sides it suits each other.”
Oakes also expressed confidence in Doohan’s ability to handle the pressure of debuting at the season finale, a race that could be pivotal in the constructors’ championship battle for sixth place between Alpine, Haas, and RB.
“I think anyone who gets thrown into an F1 car in a race like that, it’s never easy to judge,” the Team said. “I think the problem is you’ve got the benchmark Bearman set, which was phenomenal in Saudi.
“You’ve got – and I mean this in a nice way because he’s hugely talented – Kimi [Antonelli] with the sort of pressure in Monza. But I think at the end of the day Jack’s just got to take it as he finds it.
“I think he’s professional enough to handle it. I think as well, once you ease into the weekend with FP1 and FP2, you can build up to it as well.”
Oliver Oakes, Alpine Boss immediately after the race in Qatar
Official Team Statement
“BWT Alpine Formula One Team announces that Reserve Driver Jack Doohan will race in the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in place of Esteban Ocon. The change allows Esteban to be released to Haas to drive in the post-season test in Abu Dhabi.
“Jack, who has already been announced as an official driver for the 2025 season alongside Pierre Gasly, will race with the #61 as his registered Reserve Driver number and will also participate in the end-of-season test for the team at the Yas Marina Circuit”
“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. We wish Esteban the best for the future.”
Alpine Statement announcing the news
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Featured image credit: BWT Alpine F1 Team