Doohan joins Haas as reserve drive after Alpine exit

Jack Doohan has joined Haas as the team’s new reserve driver for the upcoming season.

The 23-year-old is seeking a return to a Formula 1 race seat after being dropped from Alpine’s line-up six rounds into last year’s championship. The team formally severed ties with Doohan last month.

Doohan said Haas is “the ideal place to continue my Formula 1 career.” The team named him as one of two reserve drivers alongside Ryo Hirakawa.

As reserve, Doohan will be a candidate to stand in if either of Haas’s regular drivers are unavailable. Oliver Bearman will begin the season on 10 penalty points, the most of any driver, and will be required to miss a race if he collects two more over the first six grands prix of the season.

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu said he is “very excited to have Jack join us on the team given the strength of his racing resume and of course his experience in being a reserve driver in Formula 1.”

“The dedication required to remain sharp and prepared to race while getting to know how the team works and so on, it’s challenging for any driver – especially one who’s obviously still very keen to race again at this level. I’ve enjoyed getting to know Jack and we’re looking forward to welcoming him into the team and benefiting from his contributions.”

Following his departure from Alpine, Doohan sought a move into Japan’s competitive Super Formula championship. However a test appearance for Kondo Racing at Suzuka did not go well, as he crashed on all three days, each time in the high-speed Degner corners. Kondo later passed over Doohan for a race seat, hiring Ukyo Sasahara instead.

Haas’s pairing of Doohan and 31-year-old Hirakawa is not without irony. Alpine benched Doohan for first practice at last year’s Japanese Grand Prix in order to run Hirakawa. Haas will still be able to fulfil their quota of young driver practice outings with Hirakawa this year, as he has not started more than two grands prix, but Doohan’s seven grand prix appearances (including his debut in the final round of 2024) make him ineligible.

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