Jack Doohan returns to F1 as Haas puts speed first for 2027 seat

Jack Doohan returned to an F1 cockpit at Jerez this week as Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu made clear that speed alone will decide the team's 2027 driver lineup. With five candidates in contention, including current driver Esteban Ocon, the team is prioritizing performance over affiliations or financial packages.

Why it matters:

Haas is expected to keep Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman for a third season, leaving one race seat open. The choice could significantly impact the team's trajectory in the midfield, where every tenth matters. Komatsu's insistence on performance-first selection signals a shift from the pay-driver era that once defined Haas.

The details:

• Five candidates are under consideration: Ocon, reserve drivers Jack Doohan and Ryo Hirakawa, Ferrari junior Rafael Camara, McLaren's Leonardo Fornaroli, and Super Formula champion Sho Tsuboi.
• Doohan's Jerez outing marked his first F1 test since leaving Alpine after last year's Miami Grand Prix. He ran alongside Hirakawa and Tsuboi in a TPC session.
• A previous TPC test at Portimão included Camara, Fornaroli, and Hirakawa.
• Performance first: Komatsu told PlanetF1.com: "We never take somebody who is three tenths slower, but who has got affiliations with Toyota or Ferrari, or got five million more [in sponsorship]."
• Affiliations only matter if lap times are "within tenths" or "very, very close," Komatsu added.
• The team principal dismissed concerns about becoming Ferrari's "junior" squad, saying: "We really want two fast drivers because that's the best way to grow this team."

What's next:

Komatsu said a decision won't come "next week," but acknowledged the team is in a "fortunate situation" with so many drivers interested. The eventual choice will likely shape Haas's midfield battle in 2027 and beyond.