Son of a gun Jack Doohan has secured a berth on next year’s Formula 1 grid, giving Australia potentially three drivers at the top level for the first time in nearly half a century.
Thirty years after his father Mick Doohan won the first of his five motorcyling world championships, Doohan has signed a contract with French outfit Alpine, joining compatriots Oscar Piastri (McLaren) and Daniel Ricciardo (RB) among the exclusive group on the F1 circuit next year.
Jack Doohan will drive for French outfit Alpine next season.Credit: Getty Images
Not since 1976 when Alan Jones, Larry Perkins and Warwick Brown were at the top has Australia had three F1 drivers in the same season, though that is dependent on Ricciardo retaining his seat with RB, which is not guaranteed.
In another boost for motorsport in this country, Doohan, 21, is poised to make his F1 debut on home soil at next year’s Australian Grand Prix, which opens the 2025 season due to the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix being pushed back to accommodate Ramadan.
The last local to make his F1 debut at Albert Park was Mark Webber, who famously secured a point for Minardi, then run by an Australian, Paul Stoddart, in a dramatic race where only eight of the 22 drivers finished.
The announcement on Friday that Doohan will partner Frenchman Pierre Gasly for Alpine had been widely expected in F1 circles. Doohan has been Alpine’s reserve driver since the start of last year after rising through the ranks in Formula 3 and Formula 2. The role had been formerly filled by Piastri before his graduation to the F1 grid with McLaren.
“I am so happy to secure promotion into a full-time race seat in 2025 with BWT Alpine F1 Team,” Doohan said.
“I am very grateful for the trust and belief by the team’s senior management. There is so much work ahead to be prepared and ready, and I will give my best in the meantime to absorb as much information and knowledge to be ready for the step up.
“It’s exceptionally satisfying to be the first graduate of the Alpine Academy to be in a race seat with the team, and I’m extremely thankful to those who supported me along the way to make this a reality. It’s an exciting moment, a proud day for my family, and I look forward to taking it all in and pushing hard behind the scenes.”
