- At 22, has chosen to ‘pursue other career opportunities’
It took Jack Doohan 13 years to earn a seat in Formula 1 – and 150 days to have it taken away.
The latter process has reached an inevitable conclusion with the Australian departing the Alpine F1 team to ‘pursue other career opportunities.’
Doohan, whose father is five-time motorcycle GP champion Mick Doohan, was chosen to be a driver for Alpine at the start of the 2025 season.
He made his debut the previous year after first being at the team in the academy, as a test driver, then reserve.
However, after six races, two of which he failed to finish, Alpine dropped Doohan, replacing him with Franco Colapinto.
Doohan’s best finish was 13th at the Chinese Grand Prix in March. He crashed on the first lap in the rain-hit season-opening Australian GP at Melbourne and in Miami, his last GP for Alpine.
It took Jack Doohan 13 years to earn a seat in Formula 1 – and 150 days later he has departed Alpine to ‘pursue other career opportunities’
Doohan, whose father is five-time motorcycle GP champion Mick Doohan, was chosen to be a driver for Alpine at the start of the 2025 season
After six races, Alpine dropped Doohan, replacing him with Argentine Franco Colapinto
On Tuesday, Alpine said they reached a ‘mutual agreement’ to ‘not continue Doohan’s driving services with the team for the 2026 FIA Formula One world championship season and (will) allow him to pursue other career opportunities.’
Alpine finished last among the 10 teams in the F1 constructors’ standings with the switch to Colapinto not a clear success.
The Argentine did not crash in the 17 grand prix races he started – but also didn’t gain a point, with his best finish 11th.
However, he did out-perform teammate Pierre Gasly, who scored all Alpine’s 22 points, six times.
Following his demotion, Alpine said Doohan was ‘still an integral part of the team’ and he continued to work with them as a test driver and reserve.
Doohan said at the time: ‘I am very proud to have achieved my lifelong ambition to be a professional Formula One driver and I will forever be grateful to the team for helping me achieve this dream.
‘Obviously, this latest chapter is a tough one to take because, as a professional driver, I want to be racing.’
The desire to be racing, rather than testing, may well be the reason behind Doohan’s departure.
At 22, he is young enough to have plenty of other opportunities in motor racing, though maybe not immediately in F1.
