Haas Formula 1 reserve driver Jack Doohan has revealed the harrowing death threats received shortly before his demotion from Alpine during last season.
The Australian has found a potential avenue for a career reprieve in F1 after being hired by the American squad as its reservist for the 2026 season.
Doohan was promoted from Alpine’s academy for the 2025 season, having raced the final race of 2024 upon Esteban Ocon’s early release to, ironically, Haas.
But despite the permanent post at the Enstone-based outfit alongside Pierre Gasly, Doohan was perhaps undermined from the off, upon its signing of Franco Colapinto as reserve driver.
And after scoring no points, the Miami Grand Prix proved to be the son of motorcycle racing legend Mick’s final race, with Colapinto placed into the car from Emilia-Romagna onwards.
Doohan remained on the sidelines for Alpine throughout the year, but after the conclusion of the campaign, he was officially released, forcing him to seek pastures new.
After a failed attempt to secure a seat in the Japanese Super Formula series, Doohan was given an unlikely lifeline through Haas.
It is a much rosier scenario for Doohan, who revealed in an episode of the new series of Netflix’s Drive to Survive that he was subject to communications threatening his safety.
“I got serious death threats for this [Miami] Grand Prix, saying they’re going to kill me here, if I’m not out of the car,” he said.
“I had six or seven emails saying if I am still in the car by Miami, all my limbs will be cut off.
“Wednesday, I was there with my f***ing girlfriend and my trainer, and I’ve got three armed men around me – I had to call my police escort to come and get it under control.”
Doohan, who is also testing for drives in other racing series this year, told media including Motorsport Week in Bahrain during pre-season testing that he hopes the Haas seat will lead to a fresh opportunity to race in F1 again.
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