Doohan Targets F1 Return Through Haas Reserve Role

Jack Doohan has secured a 2026 Formula 1 reserve driver role with Haas, positioning himself for what he and the team see as the clearest path back to a full-time race seat for the 2027 season. The Australian driver, who lost his Alpine race seat early in 2025, will integrate with the American team with the aim of being ready when a vacancy arises.

Why it matters:

For a young driver abruptly sidelined, securing a reserve role with a team that has a realistic potential opening is a critical career move. Haas represents a strategic opportunity for Doohan to stay embedded in the F1 environment, contribute to a team's development, and be first in line should its driver lineup change, which is a distinct possibility after 2026.

The details:

• Doohan's F1 journey hit a major hurdle in 2025 when Alpine, after giving him his debut and six races, replaced him with Franco Colapinto from the seventh round onward.
• After a reduced role and a mutual split with Alpine at the start of 2026, Doohan held talks with several teams, including Williams and Sauber, but Haas emerged as the most logical destination.
• Haas's 2026 lineup features Ollie Bearman—who is primarily a Ferrari driver—and Esteban Ocon on a multi-year deal, but neither seat is considered locked in for 2027, creating a potential opening.
• The team's extensive private testing program with Toyota, which uses older cars to develop drivers, provides Doohan with a valuable platform to stay sharp and demonstrate his capability.
• A planned parallel race seat in Japan's Super Formula with Team Kondo fell through due to disagreements over engineering setups and how to improve the car's competitiveness, leaving his on-track activities for 2026 focused on Haas.

What's next:

Doohan's immediate task is to immerse himself in the Haas team operations and maximize the private testing opportunities. His goal is unequivocal: to prove his worth and be the standout candidate for a 2027 race seat. The coming year will be a test of patience and preparation, with his future hinging on both his performance in the simulator and on test days, and the inevitable shifts in the F1 driver market.