Shock as F1 driver AXED before the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi as replacement 'confirmed'

A Formula One driver has been brutally dropped by his team ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, while his replacement has already been announced.

After 23 Grand Prix weekends, just one F1 race remains on the 2024 calendar at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

While the Drivers Championship has already been won by Max Verstappen, there is still a lot to play for further down the grid and in the Constructors Championship.

However, one Formula One driver has had his season cut short but one race after his team confirmed that he had been dropped ahead of this weekend's race.

On Monday morning, Alpine confirmed that French driver Esteban Ocon would not be racing for them throughout the entirety of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend.

“Thank you, Esteban,” the team said in a statement. “​We've shared some special memories together and wish you all the best for your next chapter.”

With Ocon out of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, it means he will never race for the team again after it was confirmed earlier in the season that he would instead drive for Haas next year.

Rumours ahead of the announcement suggested that the split could be imminent, but Monday's statement was the first official confirmation.

After the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday, Sky Sports reported Ted Kravitz said: “I can confirm now that things have ended completely for Esteban Ocon in terms of him being an Alpine driver.

“Those few hundred metres were his last as an Alpine driver."

Instead, Alpine reserve driver Jack Doohan will drive for Alpine this weekend, making his debut for the team after it was confirmed that he would replace Ocon next season.

While Ocon will be frustrated to see his F1 season end early, it means that the 28-year-old will be available to complete post-seasons tests with his new team next week.

Esteban Ocon's Formula One season finished after he crashed his Alpine during the Qatar Grand Prix. (Image: Getty)

"This is a plea bargain," Kravitz added.

"Ocon was very keen to do the post-season test on the Tuesday after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, for his new team, Haas.

"He went to Flavio Briatore, the man who makes the decisions at Alpine, and Flavio’s deal is that you can do the test for Haas if you don’t race in Abu Dhabi for Alpine because I would like to give Doohan a running start at next year’s Alpine employment."