Jack Doohan joins Haas as reserve driver for 2026 F1 season after release from Alpine | F1 News
Haas has signed Jack Doohan as its reserve driver for the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Doohan was a free agent after being released by Alpine in January, having started the 2025 season with one of their racing seats before being replaced by Franco Colapinto after just six rounds.
The 22-year-old Australian will support Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon at Haas, joining Japanese Ryo Hirakawa as a reserve option for the American team.
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Jack Doohan fumes at his Alpine team after being released at the same time as Pierre Gasly, costing him his final Sprint Q1 run at the Miami GP
“I am delighted to join TGR Haas F1 Team. It’s the perfect place to continue my career in Formula 1,” said Doohan, son of five-time MotoGP world champion Mick Doohan.
“I would like to thank the team for giving me the opportunity to grow and take on the great challenge of 2026 together. I look forward to starting working with the team and collaborating on a successful season.”
Doohan's rookie campaign seemed doomed before it had even begun, with speculation rife ahead of the first race of the 2025 season that he would be replaced by Colapinto at the start of the year.
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Jack Doohan gave frosty response ahead of 2025 F1 season to any suggestion of 'pressure' coming from Franco Colapinto joining Alpine
Speculation became reality after he failed to score a point in the first six rounds, albeit in an underperforming Alpine car in which Colapinto would also fail to score in the remaining 18 rounds.
Ayao Komatsu, Haas Team Principal, said: “I am personally very happy to have Jack join us in the team, given the strength of his racing CV and of course his experience as a reserve driver in Formula 1.
“The dedication required to stay sharp and ready to race while learning how the team works, etc., is a challenge for any driver – especially one who is obviously still very keen to race at this level again. I enjoyed getting to know Jack and we look forward to welcoming him to the team and benefiting from his contributions.”
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Sky F1's Anthony Davidson explains Jack Doohan's high-speed crash during FP2 of the Japanese Grand Prix was caused by the Alpine driver forgetting to close his DRS
When do F1 Bahrain pre-season testing take place?
The introduction of new regulations means there is a strong schedule of three separate test events before the start of the 2026 season.
With the Barcelona Shakedown now complete, F1 will next travel to Bahrain for two “official” pre-season tests, when the media will be in attendance and live timing from the circuit will be available.
Two three-day tests in Bahrain will take place from February 11-13 and 18-20.
When is the first F1 race?
Teams then have two weeks to prepare for the season-opening round, the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, March 6-8.
The first practice sessions of the season will take place on Friday March 6, with qualifying on Saturday March 7 and the opening race on Sunday March 8.
Watch every race of the 2026 F1 season live on Sky Sports, starting with the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
2026-02-03 10:00:00
