The Next Generation: Who Could Drive for Alpine in 2025?
With the departure of Esteban Ocon from Alpine at the end of the 2024, the French Formula 1 racing team has the opportunity to appoint one of its young drivers to join Pierre Gasly on the grid next season. This is the first time in a long while that drivers from Alpine’s Driver Academy have had an opportunity to join the F1 team. In past years, top drivers coming from the academy, such as Oscar Piastri, Zhou Guanyu, and Christian Lundgaard, have had to find seats elsewhere, with Lundgaard exiting Europe for INDYCAR. Here are a few of Alpine’s young talents that could have a chance at a seat with Alpine, along with a few a other more senior driver options that Alpine are likely to consider.
Jack Doohan
Jack Doohan is currently a reserve driver for Alpine, following two years in Formula 2 where he garnered 6 wins, 11 podiums, 4 pole positions, and a finishing position of third in the championship rankings. Doohan has been given several opportunities by Alpine this year to do Formula 1 testing, including completing a test at Zandvoort earlier this year, and participating in two FP1 sessions at the Canadian and British Grand Prix. The Australian driver is the son of five time 500cc World Champion Mick Doohan, and looks to join fellow Aussies Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri on the grid next year.
Victor Martins
Victor Martins has been a part of the Alpine Academy since 2021. The French driver won the Formula 3 title in 2022 and showed incredible pace in his rookie year of Formula 2, having incredible battles with Ollie Bearman, who was recently announced to join Haas for the 2025 Formula 1 season. During his rookie year in Formula 2, Martins achieved 6 podiums and 1 win, finishing fifth in the title. Many predicted Martins would be fighting for the title this year, but unfortunately after 18 of 28 races, Martins has only 1 win and 3 podiums, sitting 11th in the standings. Martins did test an Alpine Formula 1 car twice last year, however he has not participated in any testing this year so far.
Mick Schumacher
Former Haas driver Mick Schumacher joined Alpine in the World Endurance Championship in 2023, while also being the current reserve driver for both Mercedes and McLaren. Schumacher is rumoured to be a contender for a seat with Alpine for the 2025 Formula 1 season, having tested with Alpine earlier this year at the Circuit Paul Ricard.
Paul Aron
Former Mercedes Junior Programme driver Paul Aron had an incredible start to his rookie season in Formula 2. The Estonian driver was ultimately dropped from the program in 2023 following Mercedes’ decision to prioritize Kimi Antonelli, who is also in his rookie season of Formula 2. In 2024, Aron was picked up by Hitech Grand Prix and has achieved 7 podiums and 2 pole positions thus far. Despite not having a win yet this season, Aron has been a strong title contender from the start of the season. Aron currently sits third in the standings following a few difficult weekends.
With the departure of Alpine Team Principal Bruno Famin at the end of August, Oliver Oakes, current director of Hitech Grand Prix, has been rumoured to be Famin’s successor. If true, Oakes could be looking to promote the Estonian driver to a Formula 1 seat.
