Jack Doohan has opened up on the events that led to, and after, his ousting from the Alpine Formula 1 team, describing it as a “shock ot the system”.
The Aussie was signed by the Enstone-based squad to its race driver roster for 2025, having been part of its driver academy since 2022, and made his debut in place of the outgoing Esteban Ocon for the 2024 season closer in Abu Dhabi.
Doohan’s foray into the sport was, however, overshadowed by the arrival of Franco Colapinto to the team in a reserve role.
Colapinto was immediately at the centre of speculation that he would replace Doohan sooner than later, having apparently been favoured by the team’s executive advisor, Flavio Briatore.
And after the Miami Grand Prix, that became a reality, as the Argentinian was brought in alongside Pierre Gasly from Imola onwards, and thus doing enough to merit a full-time place in the team for this season.
Doohan is now firmly settled as a reserve driver for Haas, as well as a permanent role with Nielsen Racing in the LMP2 category of the European Le Mans Series.
But speaking on Fox Sports’ Pit Talk podcast, Doohan lifted the lid on the backstory to his signing, and eventual axing.
“It was obviously strange times. It was a weird 12 months of achieving that dream, having a three-year contract — you’re never secure,” he said.
“But I thought I was in a strong position, even with the noise that was going around and the press.
“I was head down and trying to do my job, although it does affect you in some ways, especially as it goes on.
“I was quite content, and then it was quite a shock to the system.”
‘Always a carrot’ – Jack Doohan reveals when he decided to escape Alpine
Doohan continued that, from his perspective, there was a sense of being lured into staying with the team, with “opportunities” talked about, but with no apparent end result, and revealed at which part of the season he decided to seek a fresh start.
“It was a little bit of a difficult path, but there was in some ways, without going in too deep into it, always a bit of a carrot,” he explained.
“I was presented with opportunities of new possibilities in increments, so it never felt like it [a comeback] was so far away — at least that’s how it was at the start.
“It was more around Zandvoort time, so the end of the summer break, August, when I realised I wasn’t going to be hopping back in the car for that season and really had to see where the next steps were going to take me.”
F1 no longer ‘the be-all-and end-all’
Doohan’s off-season also came with some fraught moments, losing a mooted drive in the Japanese Super Formula series after three crashes in three days at a Suzuka testing schedule.
But with his sportscar exploits now firmly secured, and keeping his eye in with F1 via his Haas role, the son of motorcycle legend Mick is now more relaxed and indicated that his net is cast much wider than F1 when it comes to future racing opportunities.
“It’s certainly a little bit different. It’s hard to explain, but I’m not, let’s say trying to force anything,” he said.
“Obviously it’s a slightly different position to what I have been before, where it was obviously pre [having] race experience and you’re in that junior driver category and you’re really preaching and trying to get that opportunity.
“There are opportunities that will come into my control that, in order to be in my control, are a little bit outside my control, if that makes sense.
“I’m just focusing exactly on what’s in my control, which is doing my best when I’m trackside, opportunities inside the car when they come, and apart from that, I’m not really over-analysing the outside noise that covers so much of what we do.
“If I managed to get back into a car, that would be amazing, but I know there are a lot more things than normal that are playing as a factor.
“I’m not locking too down. I think there is a good opportunity, but I’m not in the same place [as last year] where it’s the be-all and end-all.”
Doohan’s #24 car sits ninth in the LMP2 standings in ELMS, with the 4 Hours of Imola his next race, on July 5.
READ MORE – Esteban Ocon explains why F1’s European season is ‘critical’ for Haas
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