Photo: Alpine F1 Team
Alpine has promoted academy driver Jack Doohan to a Formula 1 race drive for the 2025 season.
Doohan has focused on his role as reserve driver for the team this year after two seasons racing in Formula 2 with the Virtuosi squad, finishing sixth with three wins in 2022 and improving to third in 2023 with another three wins.
He started his single-seater career as a Red Bull junior in 2018 but decided to split with the operation after finishing runner-up in FIA Formula 3 in 2021, moving to Alpine to improve his chances of opportunities in F1.
It’s a decision that has paid off as he becomes the first driver that the Enstone-based team has promoted from its young driver programme to a race seat since Romain Grosjean in 2009.
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“I am so happy to secure promotion into a full-time race seat in 2025 with BWT Alpine F1 Team,” he said.
“I am very grateful for the trust and belief by the team’s senior management. There is so much work ahead to be prepared and ready and I will give my best in the meantime to absorb as much information and knowledge to be ready for the step up.
“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.”
Alpine recently appointed Hitech GP boss Oli Oakes as team principal, and he worked with Doohan when the Australian finished second in Asian F3 in 2019 before competing against him in FIA F3 and F2.
”We are very excited to promote Jack into the race seat from next season and, in doing so, giving him the opportunity to showcase his skill and talent in F1,” Oakes said.
“Jack will become the first driver to graduate from the Alpine Academy into a race driver position with the team, so that is exceptionally pleasing for the team and its young driver pathway.
“Personally, I have worked with Jack back in 2019 and I am fully aware of his raw talent and potential. He is a very hard worker behind the scenes and his commitment is hugely valued by the entire team. Alongside Pierre [Gasly], we have a well-balanced driver line-up with a good combination between youthful energy, experience, and pure speed. We look forward to working with both Jack and Pierre in order to keep developing the car and bring the team up the grid.”