Jack Doohan set for Formula One debut for Alpine two months after Daniel Ricciardo sacked by Red Bull

The son of legendary Aussie Grand Prix motorcycle racer Mick Doohan is on the cusp of making his Formula One debut.

Alpine could give Jack Doohan his first F1 at next weekend’s Abu Dhabi season-ender as replacement for soon-to-depart Esteban Ocon.

If he gets the go-ahead Jack Doohan would become the 19th Australian to drive in the F1 and would come two months after the nation’s most successful driver of the modern era, Daniel Ricciardo.

Ricciardo was sacked by Red Bull in September following the Singapore Grand Prix but speculation continues to mount that he could make a return, possibly with Red Bull, or more likely with the newest F1 team — Cadillac — which will join the competition in 2026.

There was no official confirmation from the Renault-owned outfit about Doohan’s debut but team boss Oliver Oakes told reporters on Sunday Ocon’s early release was being discussed, although no decision had been made yet.

“I guess you could say it’s good to get Jack in early. I think you could say from Esteban’s side it’s good to move on early,” Oakes explained.

“I think it suits everybody. So I think the discussion is quite natural really.”

Oakes said Doohan, the reserve driver and son of motorcycle great Mick, would be able to “get those butterflies gone now rather than next year in Australia”.

Mick Doohan won five 500cc World Championships from 1994 to 1998 despite suffering a horrific crash in 1992 that almost cost him a leg.

Jack Doohan like Ricciardo started his racing racing go-karts, winning several Australian titles.

He then transitioned to four wheels and has raced in the F3 and F2, finishing as runner-up in the F3 in 2019 and 2020.

“My dream is to be on the grid, my dream is to be in Formula 1. I’m here with the team as a reserve driver preparing myself to be in the car. That is where I want to be, and every time I get to do that, whether it’s the sim or on track, experiencing myself with marketing, in comms, I’m trying to position myself to get that opportunity,” he has said.

The 21-year-old is due to take Ocon’s place next season, which starts in Melbourne, with the Frenchman moving to Haas.

An early exit would also allow Ocon, who still has a Mercedes contract, to test for Haas in Abu Dhabi after the season-ender.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said he would be speaking to Alpine advisor Flavio Briatore on Monday.

“If you agree that, for the benefit of the future, there’s a better solution that allows Esteban to get ready early and better for Haas – and if that depends on driving or not in Abu Dhabi — this is something we discussed today and we’re going to talk about it tomorrow,” said the Austrian.

Alpine are sixth overall and only five points clear of closest rivals Haas. Ocon retired from Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix after colliding with Haas’s Nico Hulkenberg and Williams’ Franco Colapinto.

“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 told reporters in what sounded very much like farewell comments.

French teammate Pierre Gasly finished a strong fifth on Sunday.

- With AAP