Jack Doohan aims for a full-time return to Formula 1 in 2027 after securing a reserve driver position at Haas, marking a fresh opportunity for the Australian. This development coincides with team principal Ayao Komatsu’s public critique of Esteban Ocon’s recent performance at Alpine, highlighting shifts within the F1 driver landscape.
New Partnership Boosts Doohan’s Prospects at Haas
According to the French publication Auto Hebdo, Doohan’s renewed involvement with Haas is facilitated by strengthened ties between the American team and Toyota, offering the young driver a platform to rebuild his career. After parting ways with Alpine and missing out on a 2026 Super Formula seat, Doohan is focused on leveraging his reserve role to return to the grid.
My goal is to be in Formula 1. To race in Formula 1,
Doohan said in Bahrain.
Haas has given me this opportunity.
Doohan Embraces Fresh Start and Plans for Active Racing in 2026
The past year presented challenges for Doohan, including losing manufacturer backing, but he approaches this new chapter with determination. Now paired as reserve alongside Ryo Hirakawa, he is intent on learning and absorbing everything to prepare for race seat contention.
I wouldn’t say the last ten months have been the best of my life, but we’re starting afresh,
he admitted.
I’m happy to put the past behind me and embark on this new adventure with a clean slate.
I’m going to start from scratch, be a sponge, absorb everything I can, and learn as much as possible.
To maintain race sharpness in 2026, Doohan is considering competitive outings in LMP2 events such as the European Le Mans Series or the 24 Hours of Le Mans, emphasizing the need to stay fit and active.
It’s crucial that I stay fit for racing this year through a program that I hope to finalize in the coming days,
he explained.
This will then allow the team and me to organize my participation in F1 weekends and make sure the work is done behind the scenes.
Komatsu’s Criticism Highlights Ocon’s Mixed 2023 Campaign
Meanwhile, Alpine’s team leader Ayao Komatsu has acknowledged that Esteban Ocon did not fully meet expectations during the previous season, a view the French driver found unsurprising but candidly accepted. Ocon described the season as inconsistent for both himself and the team.
It was not really a surprise to see Ayao’s comments,
Ocon said during Bahrain testing.
We talked a lot during the winter. It was an up-and-down season for the whole team.
When you read the whole article, you can see that the team has taken responsibility as well – Ayao said it was 50-50.
Ocon Details Technical Issues Affecting His Performance
Ocon pointed to braking problems, particularly front-locking issues that impacted his car disproportionately compared to his teammate’s, which affected his race consistency for much of the season.
For 12, 13, 14 races, I had this issue of front-locking, this issue of instability,
he explained.
It was similar pressure on the brakes, similar conditions across the two cars – locking for me, not on the other side.
Despite these difficulties, Ocon believes late-season adjustments demonstrated he still holds competitive pace, as seen in Abu Dhabi’s qualifying and race results.
Whatever we changed in Abu Dhabi, suddenly the car came back to life,
he stated.
Great Q3, finished seventh in the race, which is what we needed for the whole season.
Implications for Future Driver Line-Ups and Team Dynamics
Doohan’s entry into Haas as a reserve driver, backed by Toyota’s support, places him well for a potential Formula 1 seat in 2027, signaling the team’s interest in developing emerging talent. Concurrently, Ocon’s reflections and Komatsu’s remarks suggest Alpine will continue evaluating driver performance closely as the 2024 season unfolds. These shifts highlight evolving strategies among teams aiming to optimize results and nurture promising drivers in a fiercely competitive environment.
