Famin talks up Alpine juniors as he says team have ‘no stress’ over 2025 options

Alpine team boss Bruno Famin has namechecked junior drivers Jack Doohan and Victor Martins as “very good” options for the Enstone operation to consider as they weigh up who could form their future driver line-up.

Alpine have at least one seat available for the 2025 campaign following confirmation that Esteban Ocon is to depart the Renault-owned team after five years onboard, with the two parties recently “agreeing together” to split.

READ MORE: Alpine announce they will part ways with Ocon at end of 2024 season

At the Monaco Grand Prix, prior to a dramatic clash involving Ocon and team mate Pierre Gasly, and before the former’s exit from Alpine was announced, Famin faced questions from the media about his squad’s driver plans for next year.

While admitting at the time that Alpine would have been “happy to continue” with both Ocon and Pierre Gasly, whose spot beyond 2024 is yet to be confirmed, Famin pointed to the youngsters in their talent pool waiting for an opportunity.

“We want to take our time and we have very good drivers in our academy, with Jack and with Victor especially, and we have no stress,” he commented.

Australian racer Doohan, 21, joined the Alpine Academy in 2022, building on runner-up finishes in the F3 Asian Championship and FIA Formula 3 to secure third in last year’s Formula 2 standings, and had retained his role as the F1 team’s reserve driver for 2024. He will also be driving Ocon's car for FP1 in the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix weekend.

Martins has also been part of the Alpine set up for several seasons, with the 22-year-old Frenchman – a former Formula Renault Eurocup and FIA Formula 3 champion – placing fifth in his rookie F3 campaign in 2023.

ANALYSIS: What next for Esteban Ocon and Alpine after his exit?

However, alongside his comments about Alpine’s drivers, Famin made clear: “I think we really need to focus on improving the team, developing the team – this is the first priority.”

Alpine have scored just two points across the opening eight rounds of the season, leaving them ninth in the constructors’ standings – ahead of only the yet-to-score Kick Sauber.

Famin has taken some positives out of the team’s response since the start of the campaign, though, while also being boosted by the arrival of experienced engineer David Sanchez – who has recent experience at McLaren and Ferrari.

“Where I’m satisfied is with the reaction of the team, because the car is what everybody knows at the start of the season, but we have been able to bring earlier than planned upgrades to come back to the minimum weight, and that was very good,” said Famin.

READ MORE: ‘We are not robots’ – Ocon confirms he will race in Canada and hits out at ‘abuse’ following Monaco crash

“Now we need to – and this is what we are doing – switch to the second phase of the development of that car. You know that we have worked quite a lot in understanding why we were in such a situation.

“Having with us now David Sanchez onboard will help us to go faster in the recovery, which is what we hope. But for the time being, it’s a bit too early to talk about when we will be able to bring the next significant upgrade.”

Pushed on Sanchez’s impact so far, Famin added: “I think there is nothing magic in the performance of the car, but he has an immediate impact in the mindset of the team, in paving the way for everybody, in setting a clear position we need to follow for developing that car and the following one.”