Esteban Ocon is set to hand his Alpine Formula 1 seat to 2025 race driver Jack Doohan for the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi – with the arrangement understood to be confirmed as early as Monday, once it has been formally agreed by all parties.
In essence the swap is part of a deal that will allow Ocon to be released by the team to take part in the Pirelli test with his future employer Haas on the Tuesday after the race.
Alpine originally agreed for Ocon to be released to do the test in September, and Haas boss Ayao Komatsu confirmed the following month to this writer that the Frenchman would be driving (see https://adamcooperf1.com/2024/10/31/ocon-and-hulkenberg-confirmed-for-new-team-debuts-at-abu-dhabi-tyre-test/.)
It’s understood that the idea of Ocon stepping out to make room for Doohan to drive in Abu Dhabi came up on as recently as Sunday in Qatar during discussions with team executive advisor Flavio Briatore.
The Frenchman is a contracted Mercedes driver who has in effect been on loan to Alpine.
“I think there’s a contractual relationship that that Esteban and we have with Alpine on driver services, and that contract expires at the end of the year,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
“That’s the basis. And then if you agree that for the benefit of the future there’s a better solution that allows Esteban to get ready earlier and better for Haas, and if that depends on driving or not in Abu Dhabi, I think this is something which is we discussed today. And we’re going to talk about it tomorrow.”
Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes insisted on Sunday night that the deal has not yet been signed off.
“Basically, I think there’s been a discussion,” he said. “I don’t think there’s been a definitive answer, but it has been talked about.
“It’s obviously slightly complex, because as much as he is ours, he’s obviously contractually a Mercedes driver as well, and he’d like to be released early as well.”
Asked about the motivation for the arrangement Oakes said: “I think it comes from all sides, really. 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.
“I think it suits everybody. So I think the discussion was quite natural, really. From both sides it suits each other.”
He added: “I think there’s still some conversations to go through tonight, and maybe tomorrow morning, but I think it all seems moving in a direction that might be a good solution for everybody.
“I think really is probably that it just seems to suit everybody. And let’s have a discussion on it. Doesn’t mean it needs to be confirmed either way. I think Toto and Flavio have a really good relationship. I’m sure they’ll do what’s right for each other.”
Aside from his superb second place in Brazil Ocon has had a difficult 2024 season.
Shortly after his clash with team mate Pierre Gasly in Monaco it was announced that he was leaving to join Haas.
In recent races he has often been frustrated by his struggles to get as much out of the car as Gasly, although that was disguised in the wet Interlagos race.
“I think you could say that has a part to play,” said Oakes of the recent situation. “But I think really the bigger part is sort of a natural evolution of he’s moving on. Does it suit both of us to do that just a bit earlier for the last round or not?
“And from the other side you could look at it it’s advantageous to get Jack in the team, working with everybody – and get those butterflies gone now, rather than next year in Australia.”
Adam Cooper F1 