Alpine 'close in' on driver for second 2025 F1 seat after Carlos Sainz snub
Alpine have made a decision on who will race alongside Pierre Gasly next year.
Alpine have reportedly decided to offer their 2025 seat to Jack Doohan after the team were turned down by Carlos Sainz, who announced his move to Williams on Monday.
Motorsport.com claim that Sainz rejected the chance to race alongside Pierre Gasly after Lewis Hamilton took his seat at Ferrari, with Alpine now turning their attention to reserve driver Doohan.
After carefully evaluating their options, Australian Doohan is set to be promoted and follow in the motorsport footsteps of his father Mick, a five-time 500cc motorcycle world champion.
Related articles
While a contract is yet to be signed, the formalities are expected to be completed in the near future, with an announcement expected before Formula One teams shut down officially for their winter break.
Alpine's pursuit of Sainz is thought to have come from new advisor Flavio Briatore, who pitched them to Sainz, but amid links to Mercedes and Red Bull the Spanish driver opted to join James Vowles at Williams.
Esteban Ocon's departure to Haas opened up a seat at Alpine, with Doohan a contender after some impressive showings in F1 machinery, his path now clear thanks to Sainz's snub.
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Doohan, a former Red Bull junior driver, joined Alpine's programme in 2022 and will link up with team principal Oliver Oakes again after working with the boss previously at Hitech.
He has competed in six FP1 sessions for Alpine in Mexico, Abu Dhabi, Canada and Silverstone. He also joined Ocon for Pirelli tire tests at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit this week, in another hint that the team were taking a closer look at their 21-year-old prospect.
Last month, then-team principal Bruno Famin confirmed that Alpine were preparing Doohan for an eventual seat in F1. “Jack is an option,” Famin explained. "We are preparing him.
"He was testing in Zeltweg not a long time ago and he has a quite heavy testing programme. We are happy with that and let’s see how he develops. He is one possibility among others, but he is one possibility for sure.”
