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.



Monaco's Musrati Gets Shown a Quick Red Card in Loss to Benfica

Soccer Football - Champions League - Knockout Phase Playoff - First Leg - AS Monaco v Benfica - Stade Louis II, Monaco - February 12, 2025 AS Monaco's Al-Musrati is shown a red card by referee Maurizio Mariani as Denis Zakaria reacts REUTERS/Manon Cruz
Soccer Football - Champions League - Knockout Phase Playoff - First Leg - AS Monaco v Benfica - Stade Louis II, Monaco - February 12, 2025 AS Monaco's Al-Musrati is shown a red card by referee Maurizio Mariani as Denis Zakaria reacts REUTERS/Manon Cruz
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Monaco's Musrati Gets Shown a Quick Red Card in Loss to Benfica

Soccer Football - Champions League - Knockout Phase Playoff - First Leg - AS Monaco v Benfica - Stade Louis II, Monaco - February 12, 2025 AS Monaco's Al-Musrati is shown a red card by referee Maurizio Mariani as Denis Zakaria reacts REUTERS/Manon Cruz
Soccer Football - Champions League - Knockout Phase Playoff - First Leg - AS Monaco v Benfica - Stade Louis II, Monaco - February 12, 2025 AS Monaco's Al-Musrati is shown a red card by referee Maurizio Mariani as Denis Zakaria reacts REUTERS/Manon Cruz

Monaco midfielder Al Musrati got a harsh-looking red card from referee Maurizio Mariani early in the second half of a Champions League playoff first leg against Benfica on Wednesday.
Monaco was trailing at the time to a goal from striker Vangelis Pavlidis and ended up losing the game 1-0.
Mariani showed him a second yellow card and sent him off in the 52nd minute, seemingly because Musrati appeared to contest his decision after Alvaro Carreras had fouled Monaco striker Breel Embolo. He pushed Embolo to the ground from behind when they jostled for the ball and a foul was given to Monaco, The Associated Press reported.
Television replays showed that Musrati quickly wagged his right hand as if to demand a yellow card — which in itself is grounds for a yellow card.
Musrati did not appear aggressive or even to say much at all, but within one second Mariani had brandished the second yellow and ordered him off — much to the despair of the Libya international.
Monaco coach Adi Hütter was upset by the decision, saying that Musrati had acted calmly, and also by a late yellow card shown to captain Denis Zakaria — thus ruling him out of the return leg next Tuesday.
“I didn’t see him walk to the referee. The only thing what he said maybe was ‘It could be a yellow card,’” Hütter said. “Yes these are the rules we have to accept, but he was not aggressive right? And when you see the second yellow card of Zakaria, he is suspended. These are harsh yellow cards.”
Monaco left back Krépin Diatta also felt the red card was unfair.
“I think everyone saw for themselves," he said. “He wasn't angry and he was calm toward the referee. Sometimes it's too severe.”