Jack Doohan broke his silence and spoke about his time at Alpine: 'The environment and the atmosphere were complicated'

Jack Doohan began a new chapter in Formula 1 after his departure from Alpine and he is already working as Haas's reserve driver. The Australian returned to the paddock in preseason testing in Bahrain with his sights set on a clear goal:returning to race as a full-time driver.

His time with the French team was brief and turbulent. He contested six races in the top category, but after he failed to reach the expected performance level and finished behind Pierre Gasly, he was replaced by Franco Colapinto and was finally released by the French team at the end of the year. "Six races, like anything, are fantastic in Formula 1. I enjoyed them a lot. The environment and the atmosphere were complicated, (but) even so," he acknowledged.

The 23-year-old driver admitted that the outcome was not easy. "What came afterward was not ideal either. But we got through it. I learned a great deal. I have a bigger foundation from which to grow. I hope that when I can return to Formula 1, I will take everything that I learned the hard way during that time and I will put it into practice," he stated.

In Haas he found a different context. Doohan highlighted the welcome and the energy of his new team: "It is good to have a fresh start and it is also good to wear new colors. The first days with a team are always very welcoming, with open arms. It also involves many new faces, many new names. Fortunately, this morning they sent me a PDF with a list of all the names, which helps."

He also valued the opportunity to adapt to another technical and organizational structure: "I am enjoying it, taking in new terminology, a new team, a new way of running a Formula 1 team. All my previous experience had been only with one. So it is a new adventure and it is interesting to learn a different power unit and a different way of managing the car."

Despite his current role, he made it clear that he is not content with being a reserve driver. "That is the absolute goal. I would not want to simply continue being only a reserve driver. My goal is to be in Formula 1 and to race in Formula 1. I have been given that platform to try to do it with Haas. So I am very eager to try to achieve it."

While he awaits a new opportunity on the grid, Doohan is evaluating alternatives to stay active. After his possible move to Japanese Super Formula fell through, he revealed that he could compete in the European Le Mans Series, even with the possibility of contesting the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in parallel with his work with Haas.

With accumulated learning and a new environment, the Australian is aiming to turn the setback at Alpine into the necessary boost to return to Formula 1 as a leading figure.