Jack Doohan has faced a major setback in his racing career after his anticipated entry into the 2026 Japanese Super Formula Championship fell through. The Australian driver, aged 23, was expected to join Kondo Racing and make his series debut. However, on Friday, the Toyota-affiliated team announced that Ukyo Sasahara will drive alongside Williams F1 junior Luke Browning, leaving Doohan without a seat.
Since Alpine released Doohan from his reserve driver contract earlier this year, he has been free to sign with any team. Alpine retained Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto for their 2026 Formula 1 roster, prompting Doohan’s departure from the Enstone-based squad.
Financial Misunderstandings Halt Doohan’s Super Formula Opportunity
Alpine confirmed Doohan’s exit in January to allow him to explore new paths, having returned to a reserve role last May. Executive adviser Flavio Briatore had promoted Colapinto to fill the seat for the latter part of the previous season. Doohan’s move to Kondo Racing was intended to maintain his proximity to Formula 1, as the team’s close relationship with Toyota could have also enabled a reserve and simulator role with Haas.
Jamie Klein reported that a “fundamental misunderstanding” regarding the financial terms caused the collapse of Doohan’s Super Formula signing. Kondo Racing expected Doohan to bring funding, but the driver believed this was not required. This last-minute disagreement over finances led Kondo Racing to choose differently. Additionally, Doohan’s management began to question whether competing in Japanese Super Formula was the best option for his 2026 season.
Loss of Super Formula Drive Jeopardizes Potential Haas F1 Reserve Role
Doohan’s difficulties extend beyond the financial confusion. His initial Super Formula test at Suzuka last December was challenging, as he crashed at the Degner 2 corner on each of the three test days. Despite the incidents, Kondo Racing stated they would not hold the crashes against him. Still, the experience did little to strengthen Doohan’s position for future opportunities in Japan.
The failure to secure a Super Formula seat also undermines Doohan’s chances of becoming the 2026 reserve and simulator driver for Haas. Haas, deepening their partnership with Toyota in 2024, planned to sign Doohan for this role, which could have positioned him for a potential race seat in 2027. This is especially relevant as Oliver Bearman, a current Haas driver, is widely expected to move up to Ferrari, opening future opportunities within Haas.
Without a place in Super Formula or a clear entry point into Haas’ F1 structure, Doohan appears to be back at square one in his efforts to rebuild momentum towards a Formula 1 race seat.
Future Prospects and the Significance of Doohan’s Career Setback
With the unexpected end to his Super Formula deal and the loss of a likely Haas reserve role, Jack Doohan faces an uncertain future in top-level motorsport. The collapse of these plans not only stalls his progress within the F1 ecosystem but also raises questions about the best route forward for his career development. Remaining competitive and visible in feeder series is critical for Doohan’s chances to return to Formula 1, yet those pathways now appear less straightforward.
His association with teams like Alpine, Haas, and Kondo Racing highlighted a strategy to leverage manufacturer partnerships, particularly Toyota’s involvement, to maintain a place close to F1 teams. As this approach falters, Doohan and his camp will need to reconsider alternative options to remain in contention for a future Formula 1 opportunity.
“The last-minute confusion about the finances of the move was the main reason why Kondo Racing have opted against signing Doohan.” – Jamie Klein, Motorsport Reporter
“He crashed at Degner 2 on all three days of the test, which Kondo Racing had claimed they would not hold against him.” – Motorsport Insider
