Jack Doohan: Alpine demotion was a 'shock to the system' but reset my outlook

Jack Doohan has described his sudden demotion from Alpine's race seat during the 2025 season as a "shock to the system," but insists the painful experience has recalibrated his entire approach to Formula 1. Now signed as Haas's reserve driver for 2026 while actively competing in the European Le Mans Series, the 23-year-old says the grand prix grid is no longer his "be-all and end-all," even as he remains open to a future return.

Why it matters:

Doohan's candor offers a rare glimpse into the brutal psychological toll of modern F1 career uncertainty. Despite securing a multi-year contract with Alpine, he learned that no junior driver's position is truly safe—a reality that is increasingly forcing young talents to diversify their racing ambitions beyond the grand prix bubble.

The details:

• Doohan graduated from Alpine reserve to a 2025 race seat but was dumped after just six rounds when Flavio Briatore handed Franco Colapinto a five-race audition. Colapinto failed to score, yet Briatore still looked elsewhere.
• Doohan revealed Alpine repeatedly dangled the possibility of reinstatement during Colapinto's trial, giving him false hope until the summer break, when he finally accepted he would not return to the car that season.
• The Australian has since joined Haas as reserve driver for 2026 and is keeping his skills sharp by racing in the European Le Mans Series with Nielsen Racing, including a recent run at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
• Mindset shift: Doohan explained he is no longer trying to "force" an F1 comeback. "If I managed to get back into a car, that would be amazing, but I know there are a lot more things than normal that are playing as a factor," he said.

The big picture:

Doohan's trajectory underscores a growing trend for F1's peripheral drivers: the grid is shrinking for unproven talents, and survival increasingly requires mental flexibility. By finding fulfillment in endurance racing while maintaining his Haas reserve role, Doohan is building a sustainable career—whether or not a second F1 chance materializes.