F1 hopeful leaves Red Bull for Alpine

Alpine have announced their driver academy line-up for 2022, and amongst them is a former Red Bull junior driver.

Jack Doohan has joined the Alpine Academy, having previously been a part of the Red Bull Junior Team since 2017. The Australian finished runner-up in the 2021 Formula 3 Drivers' Championship, and now makes the step up to race with Virtuosi Racing in Formula 2.

Another former Formula 3 driver to become a part of the Academy is Olli Caldwell, who scored one win and four podiums last season. Like Doohan, Caldwell will progress to Formula 2 this year to drive for the Campos Racing outfit.

Both Doohan and Caldwell made their debuts for their new teams at the end of the 2021 season.

Joining them in the Academy are the returning Caio Collet and Victor Martins, who will both race in Formula 3 for a second consecutive year in 2022.

2021 a success for the Alpine Academy

The Alpine Academy had a particularly successful year in 2021. Graduate Oscar Piastri clinched the Formula 2 Drivers' Championship, and now becomes the Alpine F1 team's reserve driver.

Fellow Academy member Guanyu Zhou finished third in the F2 standings, and will make his Formula 1 debut with Alfa Romeo in 2022 as the only rookie on the grid.

Meanwhile, Christian Lundgaard also leaves the Academy after securing a seat in the IndyCar Series.

Laurent Rossi, CEO of Alpine, believes that the Academy's recent success is "a testament to the structure of the programme to prepare drivers for senior series".

"As with every year we have high expectations for our Academy and it's no different heading into this season," he added.

"We welcome two new drivers, Jack and Olli, combined with the returning Formula 3 duo of Caio and Victor. Each brings their own personality and talent and we are excited to see how our drivers develop this season, individually and as a group."