‘No decision’ from Alpine on 2025 line-up despite driver’s camp currently ‘feeding’ the media

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There are only a handful of remaining seats on the grid for the 2025 Formula 1 season and one of those is at Alpine.

Pierre Gasly is already locked in for at least the next two seasons, meaning Alpine need to find a driver to replace Esteban Ocon for the final campaign before the next set of rule changes in F1.

Several drivers currently on the grid without a contract for next year will be exploring whether joining the French team is a viable option.

However, with all of the changes happening at the top of the Alpine team, it’s hard to get a read on what’s happening behind the scenes.

Flavio Briatore has returned to the grid as an advisor to CEO Luca de Meo and it was announced during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend that Bruno Famin would leave his role as team principal with Hitech boss Oliver Oakes brought in as his replacement.

Speaking on the F1 Insider YouTube channel, journalist Ralf Bach shared what he had heard about Alpine’s attempts to fill the second seat.

One of the main candidates to earn a place on the grid next year with Alpine is Jack Doohan.

The Australian reserve driver has been working hard to help the team with his performances in the simulator.

Martin Brundle believes Doohan is in pole position to earn an Alpine seat in 2025 and become the latest Australian to step up to F1.

However, Bach believes that Doohan’s management might be overselling how close a decision is and that the team are still unsure who to go forward with.

Given the nature of the driver’s market at this stage, Alpine will be in no rush to finalise their pairing with Audi their only rival still yet to commit to two drivers.

READ MORE: Who is Alpine reserve driver Jack Doohan? Everything you need to know

Jack Doohan’s management overselling how close 2025 Alpine deal is

Talking about the vacant Alpine seat and the links to Doohan, Bach said: “We’re not there yet, that’s my information.

“Doohan’s management has always been known for feeding the English media in particular with prophecies, so I think no decision has been made yet.

“Especially now with Paul Aron, the Formula 2 pilot who is now third in the championship has come into play again driving for Hitech.

“The Hitech boss is Oliver Oakes and Oakes will be the new team principal for Alpine, which means he is now also in the mix.”

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Jack Doohan faces competition from Mick Schumacher for Alpine seat

One of the drivers hoping to return to Formula 1 after a two-year absence is Mick Schumacher.

The German joined Alpine at the beginning of the year to drive for their World Endurance Championship.

Schumacher and Doohan recently took part in an Alpine test that would have given senior personnel a better idea of which driver to move forward with next year.

The trouble for Schumacher is Alpine have spent years helping Doohan develop and understandably would like to benefit from the fruits of their labour.

Doohan had a promising but not quite outstanding junior career, failing to match the results of someone like Oscar Piastri who has thrived since arriving in F1.

It’s hard to know whether that will concern Alpine but their lack of alternatives could see Doohan become the next rookie to join the grid even if a deal isn’t as close as previously reported.