F1 Driver Esteban Ocon Released by Alpine, Doohan to Drive at Final GP of the Season

Alpine driver Esteban Ocon of France walks away from his car after crashing during the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit racetrack in Lusail, Qatar, 01 December 2024. (EPA)
Alpine driver Esteban Ocon of France walks away from his car after crashing during the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit racetrack in Lusail, Qatar, 01 December 2024. (EPA)
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F1 Driver Esteban Ocon Released by Alpine, Doohan to Drive at Final GP of the Season

Alpine driver Esteban Ocon of France walks away from his car after crashing during the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit racetrack in Lusail, Qatar, 01 December 2024. (EPA)
Alpine driver Esteban Ocon of France walks away from his car after crashing during the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit racetrack in Lusail, Qatar, 01 December 2024. (EPA)

F1 team Alpine confirmed Monday that Esteban Ocon has been released ahead of the final Grand Prix of the season and that Jack Doohan will make his debut in Abu Dhabi.

The team said in a statement that the lineup change will allow Ocon to take part in post-season tests with his new team Haas.

Alpine had announced in June that Ocon would leave at the end of the season after a troubled start to the year in Formula 1 for him and the French-owned team.

Doohan was promoted from the reserve driver role to become Pierre Gasly’s teammate.

Ocon was in 14th place in the driver's standings. He crashed out of the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday.

Ocon made his F1 debut in 2016 with Manor and joined the then-Renault team for 2020. His sole career win came at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2021 for Alpine after a crash in wet conditions took out much of the field.

Ocon will partner Ollie Bearman at Haas next season.

The 21-year-old Doohan, son of former motorcycle world champion Mick Doohan, was third in Formula 2 last year and has been a full-time reserve for Alpine in 2024.



Cristiano Ronaldo Nets 2 and Leads Saudi League in Scoring

Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Taawoun v Al Nassr - King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia - January 17, 2025 Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo during the warm up before the match. REUTERS/Stringer
Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Taawoun v Al Nassr - King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia - January 17, 2025 Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo during the warm up before the match. REUTERS/Stringer
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Cristiano Ronaldo Nets 2 and Leads Saudi League in Scoring

Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Taawoun v Al Nassr - King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia - January 17, 2025 Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo during the warm up before the match. REUTERS/Stringer
Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Taawoun v Al Nassr - King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia - January 17, 2025 Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo during the warm up before the match. REUTERS/Stringer

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice for Al-Nassr in a 3-1 victory over Al-Khaleej on Tuesday to move atop the Saudi Pro League goalscoring standings above Aleksandar Mitrovic and Karim Benzema.
The five-time Ballon D’Or winner fired Al-Nassr into the lead after 65 minutes, finding the net with a low shot from the edge of the area for his 100th goal contribution since joining the Riyadh club in December 2022, The Associated Press reported.
While Al-Khaleej made it 1-1 after 80 minutes, Sultan Al-Ghannam quickly restored the lead for Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo sealed victory eight minutes into stoppage time from close range for his 13th Saudi Pro League goal of the season. He is one ahead of Mitrovic of Al-Hilal and two in front of Benzema of Al-Ittihad.
Al-Nassr climbed into third but is 11 points behind Al-Hilal, which later defeated Al-Wehda 4-1 to go three points clear of Al-Ittihad.