Jack Doohan has found a route back into the Formula 1 paddock after signing as a Haas reserve driver for the 2026 season, just weeks after parting ways with Alpine.
The 23-year-old Australian will share reserve duties with Ryo Hirakawa, backing up race drivers Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman. The move keeps Doohan in contention for a potential return to the grid, with Haas viewed as his most realistic pathway back to a race seat.
Doohan's brief F1 racing career got off to a difficult start. After making his debut at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he contested the opening six races of 2025 but failed to score a single point in an underperforming Alpine car. He was replaced by Franco Colapinto from the seventh round onwards and spent the remainder of the season in a reduced reserve role before Alpine confirmed the split in January.
The son of five-time 500cc motorcycling world champion Mick Doohan finished third in the 2023 Formula 2 championship before getting his F1 chance. While his Alpine stint didn't deliver the results he'd hoped for, he gained valuable experience that Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu believes will prove beneficial.
"I'm personally very excited to have Jack join us on the team given the strength of his racing resume and of course his experience in being a reserve driver in Formula 1," Komatsu said. "The dedication required to remain sharp and prepared to race while getting to know how the team works is challenging for any driver, especially one who's obviously still very keen to race again at this level."
Doohan had been linked with a move to Japan's Super Formula series, even testing with the Kondo team at Suzuka. However, those plans fell through after disagreements over engineering setups and car competitiveness.
His Haas role could include participation in Toyota's extensive private testing programme using older F1 cars, though he won't be eligible for the mandatory FP1 rookie sessions due to his seven grand prix starts with Alpine.
With Bearman contracted primarily to Ferrari and Ocon's multi-year deal not guaranteeing his presence beyond 2026, Doohan has positioned himself well for a potential opportunity should a seat become available. For now, he'll focus on supporting Haas through what promises to be a challenging season navigating the new technical regulations.
