Ocon set to vacate Alpine seat for Abu Dhabi GP

Esteban Ocon is set to stand down from his Alpine Formula 1 seat ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Jack Doohan expected to make his debut at the 2024 finale, Motorsport.com understands.

The French driver retired on the first lap of the Qatar race after becoming embroiled in a clash with Franco Colapinto and Nico Hulkenberg, and this is understood to be his final race for the Enstone outfit before joining Haas for 2025.

It is widely believed that the key to moving Ocon on early is linked to his release to Haas for the Abu Dhabi test at the end of the season; Alpine is understood to have granted its blessing to the Normandy-born driver, on the proviso that he vacates his seat for Doohan for the season finale.

This will allow the team to give Doohan a full weekend of preparation in anticipation for next year, and Ocon will arrive in Abu Dhabi for that end-of-year test on the following Tuesday.

Ocon joined the team in 2020 while it was known as Renault, and secured his first and only grand prix win for the Franco-British team at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix.

It is understood that Alpine has considered it a “possibility” that Ocon will be relieved of service for the Abu Dhabi race, as the team had asked him to raise his performance relative to Gasly; a clear gulf between the two in pace had emerged during the Las Vegas weekend, in which Gasly clinched third on the grid.

Gasly asserted his current dominance in Qatar, and despite differences in front wing specification as Gasly had the new shorter nose, there was no apparent difference in specification between cars.

This is the conclusion to a season that has become increasingly tempestuous between Ocon and Alpine, which ultimately led to the two cutting ties for next season.

His position was briefly touted as being under threat at the team after a contentious clash with team-mate Gasly in Monaco, where he attempted to force his way past at Portier and caused damage to both cars.

These fears were assuaged in time for Canada but, meanwhile, it was announced that Ocon would be departing Alpine for Haas in 2025.

Under the advisorial guise of Flavio Briatore, Alpine attempted to mount a late bid to court Carlos Sainz for 2025, but was ultimately beated to the punch by Williams. The team thus announced that it would promote reserve driver Jack Doohan to the seat alongside Gasly.

Although Ocon led Alpine’s vital 2-3 finish in a wet Brazil race, he had nonetheless been several points shy of Gasly over the season – and ultimately qualified 20th in Qatar.

Additional reporting by Alex Kalinauckas and Jonathan Noble

Photos from Qatar GP Race