Jack Doohan set to drive for Alpine in Mexico and Abu Dhabi
On the eve of the United States Grand Prix, Alpine has confirmed that their reserve driver Jack Doohan will take over driving duties in the A523 for Free Practice 1 at next weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix and the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
As part of the Anglo-French team’s two mandatory rookie practice sessions, the Alpine Academy driver will drive Pierre Gasly’s A523 for Friday’s Free Practice 1 at the 4.304km Autodromo Hermanos Rodrigues in Mexico City. He will then head out in Esteban Ocon’s car in November at the Abu Dhabi season finale at the Yas Marina Circuit.
The 20-year-old Australian has previously participated in two F1 rookie Free Practice sessions, having driven Alpine's 2022 F1 car at exactly the same two venues last year.
Currently competing in the 2023 FIA Formula 2 Championship, Doohan has had two very difficult race weekends in the season-opening Bahrain round and in Baku where he failed to score a single point. Apart from these two rounds, he has had a successful season, having finished on the podium on four occasions. The driver from Australia's Golden Coast has scored two victories, having won the feature races both in Hungary and Belgium.
With only one round left in the 2023 F2 season, Doohan sits currently in the fourth place in the Drivers' Standings, having scored a total of 138 points so far.
Speaking of his outings in Mexico and Abu Dhabi, Doohan said: “It is a huge honour to be given the opportunity to drive a Formula 1 car on a Grand Prix weekend for the second year in a row. I am very grateful to BWT Alpine F1 Team for the chance to drive the A523 in Free Practice in both Mexico and Abu Dhabi.
"I have been working really hard with the team this year as their Reserve Driver, taking every opportunity to learn as much as possible for them and I feel prepared to step up and take over driving duties for the team. My sole focus is doing what is required of me by the team in order to contribute positively to the team’s outcome across the two Grand Prix weekends.”
Alpine's Interim Team Principal Bruno Famin commented : “It is great to announce that Jack will be taking over driving duties in Mexico and Abu Dhabi for the two Free Practice 1 sessions.
"Jack has worked hard over the course of the year as BWT Alpine F1 Team’s Reserve Driver and his attitude to learn the ropes in that role has been very pleasing to see. His main priority remains finishing his Formula 2 campaign in the best possible way in Abu Dhabi, however, we look forward to supporting him in the two Free Practice sessions and having his contribution to the team’s performance.”
