There will be another shake-up in the Formula One driver line-ups for 2025, with Alpine confirming on Monday that Esteban Ocon will be leaving the team at the end of this season.
It comes after Ocon came under scrutiny for a collision with teammate Pierre Gasly at the Monaco Grand Prix, with team principal Bruno Famin warning “there would be consequences”.
That is, of course, not to say that the incident at Monaco directly caused the split between Ocon and Alpine, with suggestions the Frenchman could be on the move preceding that race.
In fact, Ocon had previously not denied he was looking for a seat elsewhere, with the 27-year-old linked to Sauber should Carlos Sainz turn down the future Audi team.
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While attention now turns to where Ocon will land next year, his impending exit is also good news for Australian F1 fans as it means there could be two countrymen driving on the grid.
Australian reserve driver Jack Doohan has to be a good chance of securing the vacant seat given Alpine’s form means they are not likely to attract too much interest elsewhere.
Doohan certainly has interest in the role given he told racingnews365.com earlier in the week that the dream scenario for next year would be “to be signed as an Alpine F1 driver for 2025 and beyond”.
“[I want to] join the team, continue to progress and continue to work forward with that new philosophy, moving forward with the team and getting to the place where we want to be,” he said.
“Alpine have dedicated a lot to me and gave me a great opportunity.
“I really want to have the chance to repay that and get to where we want to be.
“Not just driving in F1, but getting to where I know all that work ethic is going towards, which is hopefully being on the podium and winning races in the future.”
Ocon hinted in a statement on Monday evening that he already had an idea of what his future in the F1 could look like next year, stating he would make an announcement “very soon”.
“It’s been a significant period of my life to be racing at this team in Formula 1,” said Ocon.
“While I’ve been here for five years as a full-time racing driver, my professional career started at Enstone back when I was a teenager, so it will always be a special place for me.
“We have had some great moments together, some tough moments as well, and I am certainly grateful to everyone at the team for these memorable times.
“I will announce my plans very soon but, in the meantime, my full focus is on delivering on track for this team and having a successful remainder of the season.”