Alpine have reportedly axed Esteban Ocon ahead of the final race of the 2024 season, with news emerging hours after the Qatar Grand Prix.
Motorsport.com claim that Ocon will be replaced by Jack Doohan in Abu Dhabi, where he will make his Formula One debut, in preparation of the young Australian who will race for the team in 2025.
Ocon retired on the first lap of the race on Sunday after an incident involving Franco Colapinto and Nico Hulkenberg, his final action for Alpine before joining Haas next season.
Alpine have made no official confirmation of the decision but were said to have asked Ocon to raise his level and match team-mate Pierre Gasly, though ending after a single lap may well have been the final straw.
Gasly finished in the points at Losail in fifth, having secured a podium with his team-mate in Brazil two races ago, though will finish the season below his fellow Frenchman.
Ocon will be at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix regardless of Alpine’s call, in order to complete an end-of-season test at Yas Marina to begin preparation for the new campaign.
Doohan is the current Alpine reserve driver and is widely expected to be promoted a few months early to get a glimpse at F1 action before officially stepping up in March.
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