Jack Doohan shakes hands with Haas F1 team principal after signing as 2026 reserve driver, Haas car in background.
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Haas signs Jack Doohan as reserve driver for 2026

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Australian driver Jack Doohan has joined TGR Haas F1 Team as a reserve driver for the 2026 Formula 1 season, providing a fresh start after his departure from Alpine. The 23-year-old will share duties with Ryo Hirakawa, bolstering the team's depth amid its growing partnership with Toyota GAZOO Racing. This role keeps Doohan in the F1 paddock as he eyes a potential return to the grid.

Jack Doohan, son of five-time MotoGP champion Mick Doohan, has secured a reserve driver position with TGR Haas F1 Team for the 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship. The announcement came on February 3, 2026, following Doohan's mutual parting with Alpine in mid-January. At Alpine, the Queensland native debuted in the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and raced in the first six rounds of 2025, starting from the Australian Grand Prix to Miami. He scored no points, with his best finish being 13th at the Chinese Grand Prix on March 23, 2025, before being replaced by Franco Colapinto ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Doohan's plans for a full-time seat in Japan's Super Formula championship collapsed after testing with Toyota-backed Kondo Racing in December 2025 at Suzuka, where he crashed three times at the Degner 2 corner. Negotiations failed over financial contributions and engineering disagreements, leading Kondo to sign Ukyo Sasahara and Luke Browning instead.

Doohan expressed enthusiasm for his new role: “I’m thrilled to be joining TGR Haas F1 Team. 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.”

Team principal Ayao Komatsu welcomed him, highlighting Doohan's experience: “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.”

Doohan joins 31-year-old Ryo Hirakawa, who has been Haas's reserve since April 2025 while competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship for Toyota. Haas's full-time lineup remains Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman, both potentially out of contract after 2026. The team heads to pre-season testing in Bahrain on February 11-13 and 18-20, ahead of the season opener at the Australian Grand Prix on March 6-8.

This signing underscores Haas's commitment to driver development through its alliances with Ferrari and Toyota GAZOO Racing, offering Doohan opportunities in testing and simulator work to stay race-ready.

What people are saying

X discussions on Jack Doohan's signing as Haas reserve driver for 2026 show mostly positive sentiments, viewing it as a strong comeback platform after Alpine and a deserved opportunity. Some express skepticism, calling it a sympathy role following other disappointments. Fans speculate on potential race chances and note Haas' car limitations.

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