Formula 1 News: Doohan Secures Haas Reserve Role Amid Super Formula Disappointment
In a twist of fate for Australian racer Jack Doohan, the 23-year-old has landed a reserve driver position with TGR Haas F1 Team for the 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, just as his prospects for a full-time seat in Japan’s Super Formula championship appear to have evaporated.
Doohan’s hopes of reviving his career with a competitive 2026 race program took a significant hit recently, with reports from Japan confirming he missed out on a drive following a challenging test. After parting ways with Alpine midway through the 2025 F1 season—where he contested seven grands prix before being replaced by Franco Colapinto—the Queensland native had been tipped for a switch to Super Formula. He tested with the Toyota-affiliated Kondo Racing team, emerging as a frontrunner for one of their seats.
However, Dutch publication Formule 1 reports that the deal fell through in the final negotiations. Kondo Racing announced last week that Ukyo Sasahara would take one seat, with the second going to Williams reserve Luke Browning, leaving no room for Doohan. The setback was compounded by a difficult three-day test at Suzuka in December, during which Doohan crashed three times. While the incidents were costly, sources indicate they weren’t the primary issue; instead, talks reportedly broke down over the financial contribution Doohan was expected to provide to the program.
The news added to an already turbulent period for Doohan, son of five-time MotoGP World Champion Mick Doohan. In mid-January, Alpine formally severed ties with him, stating: “BWT Alpine Formula One Team confirms it has reached a mutual agreement with Jack Doohan to not continue his driving services with the team for the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship season and allow him to pursue other career opportunities.”
Amid speculation about his next move, Doohan had been loosely linked to a reserve role at Haas, bolstered by the American team’s strengthening technical alliance with Toyota GAZOO Racing. Those rumors have now materialized, with TGR Haas F1 Team announcing on February 3, 2026, that Doohan will join Japan’s Ryō Hirakawa as an official reserve driver.
Doohan, who made his F1 race debut at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after serving as Alpine’s reserve in 2023 and 2024, brings a wealth of experience to Haas. He started the 2025 season with Alpine, racing from the Australian Grand Prix through to Miami before transitioning back to reserve duties. His junior career highlights include a runner-up finish in the 2021 FIA Formula 3 series and a third-place standing in FIA Formula 2 in 2023, with multiple victories.
“I’m thrilled to be joining TGR Haas F1 Team,” Doohan said in the team’s announcement. “It’s the ideal place to continue my Formula 1 career. I would like to thank the team for giving me the opportunity to grow and take on the great challenge of 2026 together. I’m eager to begin working with the team and collaborating on a successful season.”
Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu echoed the enthusiasm: “I’m personally 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.”
Hirakawa, 31, has been embedded with Haas since April 2025, balancing reserve duties with his full-time role in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Toyota GAZOO Racing. He has already completed several TPC tests and FP1 sessions.
With Doohan now on board, TGR Haas F1 Team is gearing up for pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit from February 11-13 and 18-20, ahead of the 2026 season opener at the Australian Grand Prix on March 6-8.
This reserve role offers Doohan a lifeline in F1, keeping him in the paddock and poised for potential opportunities, even as his Super Formula ambitions fade. For Haas, a team with over 200 grand prix starts since its 2016 debut, adding Doohan’s talent underscores its commitment to building depth amid partnerships with Scuderia Ferrari and Toyota GAZOO Racing.
Founded by Gene Haas, owner of Haas Automation, the squad operates from bases in Kannapolis, North Carolina; Banbury, England; and Maranello, Italy. Domestically, Haas maintains a strong presence in NASCAR through the Haas Factory Team.