F2 driver messaged F1 team boss on social media about replacing Fernando Alonso

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Fernando Alonso returned to Formula 1 with Alpine in 2021, three years after announcing his retirement at McLaren. Alonso raced alongside Esteban Ocon for two years, but soon lost faith in the project.

At the start of August 2022, Aston Martin announced that they had signed the two-time world champion, who would succeed the retiring Sebastian Vettel. That set an extraordinary series of events in motion.

Alpine initially hoped to promote their academy driver Oscar Piastri, who had won the F2 title in 2021. They went as far as announcing the signing on social media, only for Piastri to remarkably protest that they had done so without consent.

This led to a legal battle between Alpine and McLaren, who hoped to pair Piastri with Lando Norris. The Woking outfit eventually won out, securing their desired replacement for Daniel Ricciardo.

Alpine’s plan was in pieces, but they still managed to secure a race-winner to partner Ocon. Pierre Gasly arrived from AlphaTauri to form an all-French line-up, though there was pre-existing tension from a childhood fallout with Ocon.

Much like Alonso/Ocon, that combination has lasted two years. Alpine announced ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix that the latter would be leaving at the end of the season.

Jack Doohan pushed Alpine CEO for race seat after Fernando Alonso exit

Like his fellow Australian, Jack Doohan was part of the Alpine academy when all of this unfolded in 2022. He’d joined from Red Bull at the start of the year, and sensed an opportunity.

Doohan was competing in his first full season of Formula 2 at the time with Virtuosi. He won three races, took six podiums and finished sixth in the championship.

According to The Race, when Piastri publicly rejected Alpine, Doohan sent a message to then-CEO Laurent Rossi on social media. He was ‘making his case’ to fill the vacancy.

At the same time, he was ‘lobbying’ former team principal Otmar Szafnauer to give him a chance. In the end, he was unsuccessful, but this ‘sure-footed’ mentality may serve him well.

How Doohan could replace Esteban Ocon midway through 2024

Doohan is now in a much stronger position as he looks to secure a spot on the grid. He appears to be at the front of the queue to take over from Ocon.

There’s even talk that this change could happen before the season is finished. BBC F1’s Marc Priestley says there’s a ‘massive situation brewing’ at Enstone after a dispute over team orders at the Canadian Grand Prix.

One journalist suspects that Alpine could consequently look to ‘bin’ Ocon during the summer break. They would either need to prove that he’s no longer working in their best interests, or agree to a pay-off.

The 27-year-old won’t necessarily view the rest of the season as an audition for rival teams. Martin Brundle believes he’s already reached an agreement with Haas.

An early parting of ways would enable Doohan to build up his experience ahead of a full-scale debut season in 2025. After diligent work in the simulator that impressed team principal Bruno Famin, he’s already built a good foundation.