Doohan 'hungry and determined' for F1 opportunity as he admits Alpine exploring Sainz option was 'no-brainer'

Formula 1’s latest rookie to earn a full-time race seat Jack Doohan says he’s “hungry” and “determined” to prove Alpine made the right decision, as he admitted it was a “no-brainer” for the French manufacturer to explore signing race winner Carlos Sainz.

Australian racer Doohan is in his second season as a reserve for Alpine and has been pushing hard to earn promotion for 2025. However, he faced an anxious wait as Alpine held talks with Sainz in a bid to entice him to return to Enstone – Sainz having raced for Renault in 2017 and 2018 – and help steer their revival.

READ MORE: Doohan promoted to F1 for 2025 as Alpine confirm he will partner Gasly

The 21-year-old kept his head down and focused on his duties with the team, which included hundreds of hours of running in the simulator, six FP1 sessions and several tests in old-spec F1 machinery as part of his development as an Alpine academy driver.

But when Sainz chose Williams – the British team announcing the news on the Monday after last month’s Belgian Grand Prix – that lead Alpine into calling Doohan later that night to tell him he was in the car.

“I think it's a difficult one to accept to know that my future was dictated by someone else and someone else's decision,” admitted Doohan, in his first media briefing since the news broke on Friday.

“But it's a no-brainer; any midfield team would take someone the likes of Carlos Sainz with his rich experience, race-winning experience and the marketability that he brings.

“But I'm confident in the stage we're at that I was the right choice to take and to embark on this journey that we're going on. So, I’m hoping to be added value to those steps and changes that we're making to make sure we get to where we want to go.”

ANALYSIS: Why Alpine have opted for youth in signing Doohan as their rebuild phase gears up

Alpine currently sit eighth in the constructors’ championship after a difficult start to the season saw them lock out the back row at the Bahrain Grand Prix with a significantly overweight car.

Doohan, who will make his F1 debut at his home race at Australia’s Albert Park street circuit that returns as the season opener next year, says he is laser focused on ensuring he does everything he can to help Alpine accelerate their fightback.

“I think the biggest thing is getting Alpine back to where we know it can be, and getting team Enstone back to the front of the grid,” he said. “I think we're getting all the right people in place to do that.

READ MORE: From karting champion to the second youngest Team Principal in F1 history – Who is new Alpine boss Oliver Oakes?

“We're doing what we have to and taking the risks and opportunities where we need to. For sure, taking a rookie and also young driver can be a risk, but I feel like it's also going to be a really great thing for the team at the factory to have a new face in there.

“You know, I’m a young kid, I’m hungry, determined, and I feel like that's going to help a lot with mechanics and everyone back at factory, to really get everyone back together, get the motivation, the morale high, and everyone pushing that step further.”

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