AustralianFormula 1driver Jack Doohan disclosed that he endured serious death threats while competing for Alpine throughout the 2025 season. These revelations surfaced in the eighth season of the Netflix docuseries Formula 1: Drive to Survive, which premiered on February 27, revealing the intense pressures Doohan faced both on and off the track.
At just 23 years old during his first full season in Formula 1, Doohan struggled to secure pole positions and was subjected to heavy criticism that escalated into alarming threats against his safety. The threats included warnings that his limbs would be cut off if he continued racing, underscoring the extreme level of hostility he encountered.
Pressure and Hostility Amid Alpine’s 2025 F1 Campaign
Throughout the first five races of the 2025 season, Doohan raced alongside Pierre Gasly at Alpine but experienced difficulty achieving strong qualifying results. The pressure mounted visibly during the Miami Grand Prix, the sixth race of that year’s championship, when competition was intensifying and criticism grew more toxic.
Doohan described the toll these external pressures took on him, saying,
“There’s been so much s— in the press in the last two, three months,”
highlighting the hostile media environment. Gasly empathized with Doohan, noting,
“I feel for the guy because everybody is talking about him in a way that is quite toxic.”
Gasly further acknowledged the severity of the situation by adding,
“It’s not easy to deal with the pressure, tension, death threats,”
especially considering Doohan’s young age at the time.
Harrowing Experiences and Threats to Personal Safety
In one of the most distressing accounts shared during the episode, Doohan revealed receiving direct death threats linked to the Miami Grand Prix. He said,
Image of: Jack Doohan
“On top of all this, I got serious death threats for this Grand Prix. Saying they’re gonna kill me if I’m not out of the car,”
and detailed receiving emails warning,
“if I’m still in the car by Miami [Grand Prix], that I’ll be — you know, all my limbs will be cut off.”
Adding to the tension, Doohan recounted a frightening incident when three armed men surrounded him while he was with his girlfriend and trainer, forcing him to call on his police escort to regain control,
“with my f—ing girlfriend and my trainer, and I got three f—ing men, like, armed men. One at that window, one there and I had to call my police escort to come and get it under control.”
He described this ordeal as,
“pretty heavy stuff. It’s not the nicest way to be going racing.”
Performance Decline and Alpine’s Roster Changes
Doohan’s performance at the Miami Grand Prix reflected the rising tension, as he qualified 14th but retired early after a collision on the first lap. Following this, Alpine demoted him to a reserve driver role amid wider team restructuring. On January 13, 2026, Alpine confirmed Doohan’s departure, announcing that
“it has reached a mutual agreement with Jack Doohan to not continue his driving services with the team for the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship season and allow him to pursue other career opportunities.”
New Role with Haas and Looking Forward
Shortly after leaving Alpine, Doohan was signed by the Haas F1 Team as a reserve driver for the 2026 season. The announcement on February 3 welcomed the Australian to the American team, with Haas posting,
“We’re excited to announce the signing of Australian Jack Doohan as our Official Reserve Driver for the 2026 season.”
Haas also noted that Doohan would join Ryō Hirakawa in the reserve driver lineup:
“The team will now hold two drivers in the reserve role with Jack joining Ryō Hirakawa in duties.”
Expressing optimism about the move, Doohan said,
“I’m thrilled to be joining TGR Haas F1 Team, It’s the ideal place to continue my Formula 1 career.”
The new Formula 1 season will begin in early March with the Australian Grand Prix, marking a fresh start for Doohan in his ongoing F1 journey.
BWT Alpine Formula One Team confirms it has reached a mutual agreement with Jack Doohan to not continue his driving services with the team for the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship season and allow him to pursue other career opportunities.
