Doohan set for F1 debut in Abu Dhabi after Ocon’s shock exit

Jack Doohan is set to make his Formula 1 debut in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend after Esteban Ocon and Alpine mutually agreed to part ways, with the Frenchman free to join Haas after suspected bias towards his future team in the constructors’ championship battle.

Yet to be confirmed by Alpine, but made all the more evident when the Frenchman was spotted saying his goodbyes to team members, Ocon is said to have struck a deal with Alpine that will see him released from his contract one race early.

In return, Ocon has been granted the freedom to join Haas for the post-season test next week, before partnering with Oliver Bearman at the American team in the years to come.

The decision comes after Alpine believed the Ocon to be driving purposely slow to help Haas secure P6 over his current team, so in response to the Frenchman’s request to do the Abu Dhabi test, Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s Executive Advisor, agreed “as long as you don’t race for us in Abu Dhabi”.

The 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix race winner’s Qatari evening ended at the first corner, where he was forced to retire on the opening lap following contact with Nico Hulkenberg and Franco Colapinto.

Speaking after the disappointing end to his five-year journey with the Enstone-based outfit, Ocon thanked his team members for their “effort” across the season.

“Racing incident, unfortunately, it was just wrong place wrong time I would say, more contact than normal, short race on our side, not something we wanted,” the #31 said.

“I’d like to thank the guys for their effort this race but also their effort the whole year.

“That’s important to me to have seen them pushing.

“I just wanted to say that.”

Announcing Doohan’s promotion from Reserve Driver to F1 driver to-be in August, widespread reports now claim that the 21-year-old will make the step up to Formula 1 earlier than expected this week, with P6 in the constructors’ championship all but sealed after Pierre Gasly’s fifth-place finish in Qatar.

While Alpine is yet to make an official announcement, Alpine Team Principal Oliver Oakes admitted that discussions regarding an early switch had taken place between Briatore and Toto Wolff, Mercedes Team Principal, who still plays a role in the former Mercedes Junior’s management.

Oakes said: “I don’t think there’s been a definitive answer yet, but it has been talked about.

“It’s obviously slightly complex because as much as he is ours, he is contractually a Mercedes driver as well.

“And obviously, he’d like to be released early as well.”

New to the role this season, the Alpine Team Principal also said the decision to move the Frenchman on “suits everybody”, adding that it would be “good to get Jack in early”, however, there are “still some conversions to go through tonight and maybe tomorrow morning”.

He ended the bittersweet night in Qatar saying: “I think it all seems to be moving in a direction that might be a good solution for everybody. Let’s see.”

Wolff released a short statement on the matter, saying: “If you agree that for the benefit of the future, there’s a better solution that allows Esteban to get ready earlier for Haas and that depends on driving or not in Abu Dhabi, I think this is something which is we discussed today, and we’ll talk about it tomorrow.”