Alpine, Jack Doohan Mutually Split Ahead of F1 2026

Alpine and Jack Doohan have mutually agreed to part ways ahead of the 2026 F1 season, concluding the Australian driver's tenure with the team. The decision comes after a brief six-race stint in 2025 where he was replaced by Franco Colapinto, and it allows Doohan to pursue other racing opportunities to keep his F1 aspirations alive.

Why it matters:

This split marks a significant setback for Doohan, a long-time Alpine Academy prospect and former Formula 2 runner-up whose F1 dream stalled shortly after it began. For Alpine, it finalizes a driver lineup for 2026 but also underscores the team's recent instability and ruthless approach to performance in a fiercely competitive midfield, where no seat is truly safe.

The details:

• Doohan, an Alpine Academy member since 2022, made his F1 debut at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, replacing the Haas-bound Esteban Ocon.
• He started the 2025 season alongside Pierre Gasly but faced immediate pressure after Alpine signed Franco Colapinto, who impressed during a cameo with Williams, as a reserve driver.
• After six Grands Prix without scoring a point, Doohan was demoted back to a reserve role following the Miami GP to make way for Colapinto.
• With Alpine confirming its 2026 lineup as Gasly and Colapinto, Doohan's path back to a race seat at the team was blocked, leading to the mutual separation.

What's next:

Doohan's F1 career is not necessarily over. He is reportedly the leading candidate for a reserve driver role at Haas for 2026, potentially combined with a campaign in Japan's competitive Super Formula series. This program would be designed to keep him race-fit and within the F1 ecosystem, positioning him for a potential full-time return to the grid in 2027.