Jack Doohan is reportedly considering a move to Haas as their reserve driver for the 2026 Formula 1 season, following uncertainty over his place at Alpine. With his chances of securing a main race seat at Alpine diminishing, Doohan is exploring opportunities to maintain his presence in F1 through a potential Haas affiliation.
Uncertainty Surrounding Doohan’s Future at Alpine
The Australian began the current season as Alpine’s secondary driver alongside Pierre Gasly but was replaced by Franco Colapinto shortly after the Miami Grand Prix. During his brief time on the track this year, Doohan did not manage to score any championship points. Although Colapinto has also struggled to add points, the Argentine driver has out-qualified Gasly in four of the last five races, demonstrating noteworthy improvement.
As the 2026 driver lineup at Alpine remains unsettled, executive advisor Flavio Briatore confirmed that the decision will come down to internal options within the team. These options include retaining Colapinto, giving Doohan a renewed opportunity, or promoting Paul Aron, who has made a strong impression in FP1 sessions and testing outings.
Despite Paul Aron’s performances, Colapinto’s recent form might be sufficient for him to secure the seat for the upcoming season, leaving Doohan in a precarious position regarding his Formula 1 future.
Discussions Between Doohan’s Camp and Haas
Credible Formula 1 journalist Chris Medland recently reported that Mick Doohan, Jack’s father, has been seen engaging with Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu. This interaction suggests that Haas is considering bringing Jack Doohan on board as a reserve driver to bolster their driver pool heading into 2026.
Currently, Haas does not have a confirmed reserve driver option. Their third driver, Ryō Hirakawa, comes from a World Endurance Championship background and lacks recent F1 experience. In addition, Haas needs contingency plans given that race driver Ollie Bearman is one penalty point away from a potential race ban, which increases the urgency for a reliable reserve.
On the Pit Pass F1 podcast, Medland explained the situation around the possible Haas move:
For a driver who made it to F1 this year and is no longer racing, Jack Doohan has been linked with a move to Haas, potentially,
Chris Medland said.
Medland further described current rumors circulating within the paddock:
Now, word in the paddock that I got today was actually a potential link to Toyota, so maybe some Super Formula tie-up and a bit of running in Japan to get him race sharp again, and just for Doohan to be racing.
He wants to be racing, he’s not been in an F1 car since Miami, and he wants to be out on track again.
He also detailed how this racing activity could complement a reserve role at Haas:
But that would also then be partnered up with a reserve role at Haas and some TPC running, that would just kind of keep him in the loop if there was any reserve driver needed, and strengthen the pool of drivers available there.
Medland shared observations of Mick Doohan’s presence at Haas events:
Mick Doohan was down talking to Ayao Komatsu for a long spell this afternoon. I observed that one, and he’s been down there a couple of times this weekend.
He emphasized the motivation behind the discussions:
I think the Doohan camp is shopping around, trying to find options because it doesn’t look like the door is going to re-open at Alpine, and Jack Doohan had been hoping that an opportunity for him later this season, if things didn’t go well for Franco Colapinto.
Finally, Medland pointed out the current status of Alpine’s driver selection:
But it appears Alpine are going to stick with Colapinto until the end of the year, and we’ll see what happens with the race seat there. But clearly, Doohan doesn’t think that race seat is coming back his way, so he is looking at other options.
The Implications of Doohan’s Potential Haas Role
If confirmed, moving to Haas as a reserve driver and participating in events such as testing and TPC running would keep Jack Doohan actively involved in Formula 1 despite losing his race seat at Alpine. This role could provide him with valuable track time, maintain his race readiness, and keep him visible within the paddock, offering a possible route back into a full-time race seat in the future.
Given Haas’ current need for reliable reserve drivers, especially with Ollie Bearman facing possible race bans, Doohan’s experience from this season and his racing background could make him a strategic fit. Simultaneously, potential racing ties in Japan, like Super Formula, could help Doohan sharpen his skills while aligned with Toyota, broadening his competitive options beyond Formula 1.
As Alpine finalizes its driver lineup and Haas considers strengthening its reserves, Doohan’s career trajectory remains uncertain but continues to evolve across competitive motorsport environments.
