The dust has finally settled on the 2025 Formula 1 season. For Australian fans, the landscape now looks very different. While Oscar Piastri and McLaren celebrate a dominant year, the other Aussie on the grid faces a turning point. Jack Doohan has been forced to orchestrate a dramatic career pivot. After Alpine dropped him following just six scoreless races in favour of Franco Colapinto, Jack Doohandid not fade into the background. Instead, he turned east. He traded the French Riviera for the technical challenge of Japanese racing.
The Suzuka Audition: Grit Over Perfection
Earlier this month, Doohan travelled to Japan for a high-pressure three-day rookie test at the legendary Suzuka circuit. He drove for Kondo Racing, a Toyota-powered team. However, the 22-year-old’s debut proved anything but smooth. Doohan crashed three times at the tricky Degner corners. The incidents quickly made global headlines. For some drivers, such a debut would end the conversation. In Japan, however, the reaction proved surprisingly supportive. Kondo Racing manager Nobuaki Adachi praised Doohan’s technical feedback and raw potential. He also cited freezing winter track conditions as a major factor in the spins. By the end of the test, Doohan finished as the ninth-fastest rookie. That result proved solid enough to all but secure him a full-time seat in the 2026 Super Formula championship.
The Haas-Toyota Connection: A Strategic Lifeline
Super Formula will keep Doohan race sharp. However, his long-term objective remains a return to the Formula 1 paddock. Sources now suggest he is close to signing as the official reserve driver for the Haas F1 Team in 2026. This move did not happen by chance. Haas recently signed a landmark title partnership with Toyota Gazoo Racing. The deal created a “Toyota ecosystem” that links the American F1 team with the Japanese Super Formula grid. By racing for a Toyota-powered team in Japan and backing up Haas in Europe, Doohan positions himself strategically. He could emerge as the leading candidate to replace either Esteban Ocon or Oliver Bearman when their contracts expire at the end of 2026.
Severing Ties with Alpine
The final piece of the puzzle fell into place this week. Jack Doohan shared a series of emotional Instagram photos. The images showed him embracing mechanics and reflecting on his journey. Insiders widely interpret the posts as his formal farewell to Alpine. The relationship with Alpine, previously managed by Flavio Briatore, has now ended. To join the Haas–Toyota programme, Doohan needed a clean break from his Enstone contract. That agreement was originally set to run through 2026. With that hurdle cleared, the Gold Coast native moves forward as a free agent. He now carries the backing of one of the world’s largest automotive giants.
A Lone Star in 2026
In the 2026 season, Oscar Piastri will carry the Australian flag alone. Daniel Ricciardo has officially exited the grid, while Doohan enters a rebuilding phase. As a result, the so-called “Aussie Invasion” now consists of a single, albeit very fast, McLaren. Still, history offers hope. Drivers such as Pierre Gasly and Liam Lawson used Japan as a springboard. If that pattern holds, Jack Doohan’s “Great Escape” may only mark the beginning of a 2027 comeback.
Jack Doohan 2026 Outlook
Four Key Questions
