The BWT Alpine F1 Team have announced another significant change for the upcoming weekend at the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix, following the announcement of Esteban Ocon and the team parting ways at the end of the season. Reserve driver Jack Doohan will be taking over driving duties from Esteban Ocon for the first Free Practice session at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montréal on Friday.
This will mark Doohan’s first time behind the wheel at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, providing him a valuable opportunity to gain more track experience and offer the team crucial feedback.
Doohan has previously participated in four F1 rookie Free Practice sessions, driving the A522 and the A523 at the Mexico City Grand Prix and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2022 and 2023.
“I’m really excited to get out on track in Montréal for FP1,” said Doohan. “It will be my first time driving at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, which I am looking forward to. I am grateful to the team for the opportunity to get more track time, and also familiarise myself with 2024 machinery early in the season.
“This will also help with the work I am doing in the simulator, particularly at the European rounds. My focus will be on doing the best for the team and maximising the session for both drivers, looking at certain test items and understanding the new track surface.”
Esteban Ocon, who will be stepping aside for FP1, expressed his thoughts on recent events and his focus for the Canadian Grand Prix.
“A lot has been said in recent days, so I am very much looking forward to driving again and getting back out on track. My focus and energy is fully dedicated to the team and maximising our results on track, starting already this weekend in Canada.
“The pace we showed in Monaco was positive, particularly in Qualifying trim, where we had the opportunity to get both cars into Q3. As a team, we have been making steady progress over the course of the season.
“Despite the circuit characteristics being quite different, hopefully we can carry momentum into Montréal and show similar speed as we did in Monaco. The field is extremely close at the moment, so extracting every bit of performance counts.”
Ocon also addressed the recent online abuse he received following his collision with teammate Pierre Gasly at the Monaco Grand Prix, saying, “While I have received many messages of support, I have been deeply saddened by the amount of abuse and negativity that I have received online regarding my character, my driving, and my career.
“We are not robots; we are athletes, pushing ourselves to the limit every day to achieve our dreams of winning races. F1 is a sport where emotions run high, and passions run deep.
“The misinformed statements and gross distortions that I have seen online in recent days about my ability to work with a team have been inaccurate, hurtful, and damaging.”
Bruno Famin, Team Principal of Alpine, highlighted the importance of the upcoming race and the decision to field Doohan in FP1. “It was positive to see our performance level in Monaco, to be in and around the top-10.
“We knew Qualifying would be vitally important to the end result and that is why we are all pleased with the improvements we made across Friday Practice into Saturday Qualifying day. But we know Monaco is very specific, and we must keep pushing and striving for delivering the most from the car each time we are on track.”
Famin also expressed his thoughts on the Canadian circuit.
“Montréal is a place we love coming back to every year, because of the very special atmosphere here.
“It is an interesting track with some tricky corner combinations and tight walls in places. Being a temporary circuit, the track is typically quite ‘green’ in the first session on Friday,” he explained.
“But as it has been completely resurfaced for this year, the grip and general conditions will be important to assess early in the weekend. With overtaking opportunities, it usually provides some good racing.
“The weather can also be very mixed in Montréal, as we have seen in previous years, so we must be ready for all eventualities.”
