Australian Jack Doohan, son of five-time motorcycling world champion Mick, is a candidate to replace Fernando Alonso in Renault’s Alpine Formula 1 team, according to CEO Laurent Rossi.
The 19-year-old is doing well in his rookie season in the Formula 2 championship and is a member of the Alpine Drivers Academy.
Rossi told the website www.formula1.com that Doohan was a consideration, although the fourth-placed Alpine would prefer someone more experienced who could score big points right away.
“We believe in him, he’s shown a lot of potential, especially lately – he’s talking about being there at the right time,” said Rossi.
“He’s a great person, he’s fast, his father is also a champion I admire and a person I admire. In one way or another we will try to put him in an F1 at a given moment ”.
Mick Doohan was 500cc world champion, before this category became MotoGP, from 1994 to 1998.
Rossi, however, said Alpine was “once bitten, twice shy” following a recent contract dispute with Australian reserve driver and 2021 Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri who has signed for McLaren for 2023.
Alpine had spent a lot of money preparing Piastri and planned to lend it to Williams, similar to how Mercedes had done with George Russell.
“We will respect our commitment to all the riders in our academy, but we are wondering whether or not to continue,” said Rossi.
“We are torn apart. We believe in the value of the system but if we are not protected is it worth it?
“We really wonder. It is a big disappointment. Perhaps a great check of reality “.
Experienced French driver and race winner Pierre Gasly is considered Alpine’s first choice to replace two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who will move to Aston Martin next year, alongside Esteban Ocon.