Formula 2 star Jack Doohan says that he is embracing the speculation around him potentially earning a Formula 1 drive with Alpine in the near future.

Alpine currently have a vacant seat for 2023 and several names have been linked with heading there and partnering Esteban Ocon.

Indeed, it all stems from Fernando Alonso revealing he'd be joining Aston Martin for next year at the start of the summer break and, since then, the speculation has been pretty full on.

The likes of Pierre Gasly, Antonio Giovinazzi, Nyck de Vries, Oscar Piastri, Mick Schumacher and young Jack Doohan have all been touted as potential arrivals within the team, then, though some are not going to happen now - see Piastri - whilst others seem pretty unlikely.

Doohan is undoubtedly a dark horse for the seat, given his age and relative inexperience but he is seen as a future driver for Alpine given he is part of their driver programme and also enjoying good form in F2, and the suggestion is why not bring him through a little earlier than planned if they're going to give him a seat in the coming years anyway.

It still might be unlikely in all truth for 2023, but Doohan is enjoying the chat and speculation as it means he's doing a good job:

"To be honest, I'm happy with it, because there's obviously talk and obviously I want to do well, for sure.

"I know it's there, so for me it's motivation to work hard. Not that I wasn't working hard, but to almost know I need to show my maturity, I need to show my head and I need to show that I'm capable of putting myself together.

"If it's not P1, it's taking P4 with a car that can take P4, and I'm not really under any pressure so I can just enjoy what I'm doing, and I love this.

"So being able to extract my potential and really enjoy this moment and this time."

SPA, BELGIUM - AUGUST 26: Jack Doohan of Australia and Virtuosi Racing (3) drives on track during practice ahead of Round 11:Spa-Francorchamps of the Formula 2 Championship at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on August 26, 2022 in Spa, Belgium. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)

Who joins Alpine for 2023?

Depending on who you believe, Alpine could have any one of about four or five drivers alongside Ocon next year.

Gasly is seen by many as the favourite to make an all-French line-up but Ocon has said he'd pick Schumacher if anyone, whilst Nyck de Vries also has been touted for a move there pretty recently.

Doohan is a long shot but stranger things have happened, especially in this year's driver market.