Two new drivers were confirmed to be on 2025 Formula 1 grid on Thursday ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix.
Aston Martin completed their line-up for the next two seasons by stating that Lance Stroll will be joining Fernando Alonso for the foreseeable future.
However, that announcement was preceded by the news that Pierre Gasly has signed a new long-term deal with Alpine.
Gasly is halfway through his second season with the French team and despite their difficult start to the campaign, he has committed his future to the works team based in Enstone and Viry-Chatillon.
Writing on his blog ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, Joe Saward has shared who Alpine are lining up to join Gasly next season.
Esteban Ocon has already confirmed that he won’t be with the team beyond 2024 after five campaigns with the outfit.
That provides an opportunity for Alpine to go in a new direction and despite links to several current drivers on the grid, Saward believes youngster Jack Doohan is being lined up to join Gasly next year.
The young Australian was described as an animal by David Coulthard on the Formula For Success Podcast.
Alpine will hope he can match Gasly’s pace if he handed the seat without colliding with his teammate as often as Ocon did.
READ MORE: Who is Alpine reserve driver Jack Doohan? Everything you need to know
Jack Doohan ‘being lined up’ to join Pierre Gasly at Alpine
Writing about the situation at Alpine, Saward said: “The most reliable sources say that Alpine has already taken up an option it had on Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan, the team’s reserve driver, is clearly being lined up for the second seat.
“The team’s biggest problem is not the drivers.”
Doohan has been doing a lot of testing for Alpine in his role as reserve driver this season and was praised for his feedback ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix where Gasly scored his first point of the campaign.
Speaking after the race via Alpine-Cars, he said: “Monaco was a different situation for me completely, not the one that I’m very used to, especially with the all-nighters that we’re pulling on Friday to Saturday night!
“I flew at 12 noon on Friday, Nice to Heathrow. I arrived at Enstone at 2.50pm. Our session started at 4pm, and we ran until our job list stopped.
“I was probably in the simulator for close to nine hours. I take 10-minute breaks, so there were three or so breaks over the course of that. I usually lock in for a couple hours at least at a time.”
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage
Jack Doohan has plenty of competition for the 2025 Alpine F1 seat
While Alpine may be lining Doohan up for a potential drive alongside Gasly next year, they’re not limiting their options.
Mick Schumacher will test alongside Doohan next week and has caught the team’s attention with his drives in the World Endurance Championship.
Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas has also been touted as an option although he appears to be every team’s second choice right now while the grid shakes out.
However, the most likely competitor for Doohan to a potential seat in Formula 1 is Carlos Sainz.
Although he’s the top choice for Williams and Audi, Alpine have made a late bid for Sainz and improved their offering in the past few weeks.
The Spaniard is the best free agent on the market and would be a stronger teammate for Gasly than Doohan.
It still seems like a longshot that Sainz returns to the Renault-powered outfit and Doohan will be hoping he decides to move elsewhere.
The post ‘Most reliable sources’: Young racer David Coulthard loves is now ‘lined up’ for 2025 Alpine seat – journalist appeared first on F1 Oversteer.