Australian 21-year-old Jack Doohan has been handed his Formula 1 debut at next week’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after Esteban Ocon quit the Alpine team after Monday morning’s race in Qatar.
Doohan was already signed to replace him next year after Ocon spent more than two years as Alpine’s reserve driver.
Ocon endured a tough weekend, crashing out of the race on the opening corner after being sandwiched by Franco Colpapinto and Nico Hukenberg.
There were also two other DNFs in Qatar’s chaotic race - Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez - with Max Verstrappen winning the race.
Ocon is leaving Apline to join Haas in 2025 after five years with Renault’s works team and it is understood that Ocon might not have gotten permission to test for Haas had he not agreed to sit out the final grand prix.
In his post-race comments, Ocon suggested his campaign would be over and thanked the Al[ien team for their support.
“I would like to thank the team for, you know, their hard work over this race and their hard work over the whole year,” Ocon said.
“When it’s going well, it’s good, you know, 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.”
The F1 season concludes at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Monday 9 December.
