Theory emerges behind Jack Doohan's repeated Super Formula testing crashes at Suzuka

An explanation has emerged for Jack Doohan's trio of near-identical crashes during Super Formula testing at Suzuka, as the Alpine reserve driver closes in on a 2026 race seat in Japan and a reserve role with the Haas F1 team.

Why it matters:

Doohan's potential move to Super Formula is a critical career pivot aimed at keeping him race-sharp for a targeted 2027 F1 return. His performance and adaptation in a highly competitive, F1-adjacent series are being closely watched by teams, making these testing incidents—and their root cause—significant for evaluating his readiness.

The details:

• Doohan participated in a three-day test with Toyota-backed Kondo Racing at Suzuka following the F1 season finale in Abu Dhabi.
• He experienced three remarkably similar crashes at the fast Degner 1 corner, where the front of the car bounced aggressively over the kerb.
• The primary theory points to significant set-up experimentation across Kondo Racing's garage. Doohan is understood to have sampled both team cars with different configurations, which likely contributed to the unstable front-end behavior he encountered.
• Team principal Nobuaki Adachi downplayed the crashes, attributing them partly to the challenging conditions at Suzuka and expressing confidence in Doohan's potential and ability to adapt.

The bigger picture:

Doohan's late push for a Super Formula seat comes amid a reshuffling of his career strategy. With no racing since the Miami Grand Prix, the series offers vital track time. His intended move to Kondo Racing—a mid-field team that finished seventh in 2025—is partly due to more established Toyota squads like TOM'S and KCMG having their line-ups largely finalized. The switch is also seen as key to securing a 2026 reserve driver role with Haas, a team deepening its technical ties with Toyota's Gazoo Racing division, which also supports Super Formula operations.

What's next:

A final deal with Kondo Racing for the 2026 season is pending, currently hinging on negotiations for his release from Alpine. His seat at the French team is expected to go to F2 racer Alex Dunne. If confirmed, Doohan's Super Formula campaign will serve as a crucial proving ground, with results secondary to maintaining race rhythm and showcasing his skills to the F1 paddock, particularly Haas, ahead of the 2027 season.