Alpine Officially Parts Ways with Jack Doohan

Alpine has officially ended its relationship with Jack Doohan, confirming the Australian driver will not be part of its 2026 lineup. The decision concludes a challenging season where the former academy graduate struggled to match his teammate and was ultimately demoted in favor of Franco Colapinto, marking an abrupt end to a once-promising driver development story.

Why it matters:

Doohan's departure highlights the brutal reality of F1, where even a highly-touted academy product can be cast aside after a single difficult season. For Alpine, it signals a no-nonsense approach under team advisor Flavio Briatore, prioritizing immediate results over long-term development. This move serves as a stark reminder of the immense pressure and high stakes at the pinnacle of motorsport.

The details:

• Academy Graduate: Doohan was the first driver from the Alpine Academy to be promoted to a race seat, debuting at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after being nurtured by the team for years.
• 2025 Struggles: In his six-race stint before being replaced, he managed to outqualify his experienced teammate, Pierre Gasly, only once. His best race finish was 13th place in China.
• The Colapinto Factor: Alpine's signing of Franco Colapinto as a reserve driver intensified the pressure on Doohan, and the Argentine was quickly promoted to the race seat after Doohan's underwhelming start to the season.
• Official Split: The team announced a "mutual agreement" with Doohan, thanking him for his commitment and allowing him to pursue other opportunities.

What's next:

For Doohan, his future likely lies outside of Formula 1, with a potential move to Japan's Super Formula series being discussed, though a recent test was marred by crashes. For Alpine, the focus now shifts to its 2026 driver lineup, with Gasly and Colapinto set to lead the team into the new regulations era, marking a clean break from the Doohan project.