Doohan leaves Alpine ahead of F1 2026

Jack Doohan is leaving the Alpine Formula 1 team for the 2026 season.

A product of the Alpine Academy since his Formula 2 years, Doohan graduated to its F1 line-up at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, getting a head start ahead of his maiden campaign in 2025.

But by then, Alpine signed a number of reserve drivers, including Franco Colapinto. Doohan struggled – he outqualified Pierre Gasly only twice in eight sessions, was more than six tenths off the pace in half of those, and had a best result of 13th on Sundays.

Alpine therefore promoted Colapinto to a race seat and demoted Doohan to his former reserve driver role, which the 22-year-old admitted was “a tough one for [him] to take”.

Doohan is now leaving the Enstone-based squad to pursue a different career path, namely a potential Super Formula campaign with Kondo Racing that still isn’t official after the Australian crashed three times at the same Degner 2 corner in a Suzuka test.

Alpine’s statement in full

“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.

“Jack became the first member of the Alpine Academy to graduate into a race seat with the team when he made his grand prix debut at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

“The team would like to thank Jack for his commitment and professionalism to the team for the past four years, both on and off track, and wishes him all the best for the future.”