After his departure from Alpine, Jack Doohan is Haas' new reserve driver

Jack Doohan will continue in Formula 1 in 2026. This Tuesday, Haas officially announced the Australian driver as the new reserve driver, clearing up doubts about his future after his departure from Alpine and a season marked by inconsistency.

Although in recent weeks there had been speculation about a possible move to Japanese Super Formula, the Australian ultimately chose to remain in the top category while he waits for a new opportunity on the main grid.

"We are very pleased to announce the signing of Australian Jack Doohan as our official reserve driver for the 2026 season", the American team announced through its social media. This way, Doohan will share the backup role with Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa, another former driver of the French team, while Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman will remain starters.

The driver himself celebrated the confirmation and highlighted the opportunity to stay within the paddock. "I would like to thank the team for giving me the opportunity to grow and to take on together the great challenge of 2026. It is the ideal place to continue my career in Formula 1", Doohan said, who already presents himself on his social media as Haas's reserve driver.

Doohan, 23 years old and son of motorcycle racing multi-champion Mick Doohan, had started the 2025 season as a full-time Alpine driver. However, a series of poor performances and several accidents led to his replacement by Franco Colapinto starting from the seventh race of the calendar.

When Formula 1 returns

After private testing in Barcelona, the teams will have a second preseason practice session in Bahrain, which will be split in two: from February 11 to 13 and from 18 to 20 of the same month.

Once they end, only in March will the formal calendar of the category begin with the Australian Grand Prix, which will take place from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne.